MUSC 105 - Hip Hop: Music and Culture

3 Credit Hours
The rise of Hip-Hop over the last 40 years is one of the most significant developments in popular music since the emergence of Rock & Roll. This course will examine this often controversial music by defining its key musical characteristics, tracing its history from its origins in the Bronx in the 1970s to contemporary rappers and Hip-Hop’s international status and influence. Besides surveying artists, albums, and songs, we will also explore issues such as the representation of gender and sexuality in lyrics and videos, racial identity, urban gang culture, intersections between music and politics, and Hip-Hop’s representation in media outlets such as mainstream news, MTV, and BET.

Course Attributes: Africana Studies Minor, Creative Perspectives

Levels: Undergraduate

College of Arts & Sciences Music & Theatre