Amina Norman-Hawkins

Rising out of a relatively obscure urban youth movement in the 1970s, hip-hop would become one of the world's preeminent forms of artistic expression wielding tremendous influence in the world of music, fashion, dance, and popular culture. Created primarily by teenagers in New York¿s South Bronx to amplify their creative and socio-political voices, hip-hop also served an important role in preserving the heritage and cultural identity of Black and Brown communities in the United States. This course will explore hip-hop¿s musical and cultural roots examining its distinguishing characteristics, aesthetic practices, and position in the world. The course begins by exploring the African and Caribbean music and dance traditions that helped shape hip-hop practices, from drum rhythms to syncopated vocal delivery, and communal performance circles. We will explore the music production process, lyric construction, narrative storytelling, and encoded messages. We will also examine how advancements in technology have played critical roles in making hip-hop more accessible due in part to the affordability of personal computers, the shift from analog to digital music formats, and the creation of the Internet. Additionally, we will explore the associated elements of fashion, dance, language, and entrepreneurialism connected to hip-hop. Students will be assigned quizzes, music and song analysis, video feedbacks, a midterm album presentation, and a creative independent (or collaborative) final project.