The 3rd annual Hip-Hop Studies Conference will be held at Howard University from November 14 to 16, 2025. The call for papers will be posted soon.
Hip Hop Studies
About
The Hip Hop Studies minor engages students in one of the most significant Black cultural movements in recent history. This minor exposes students to the diverse elements and disciplines that intersect and converge to make up Hip Hop culture. It also focuses on the growth of Hip Hop into a global community rooted in African Diaspora culture and shaped by local experiences.
Hip Hop Studies emerged out of the recognition of the importance of Hip Hop beyond music or stylistic elements. Hip Hop culture has developed into a global phenomenon with significant economic, social, and political impacts around the world. The scholarship that would shape the field of Hip Hop Studies began emerging in the late 1990s. Since then, the field has expanded, with a body of scholarship from scholars worldwide, as well as academic journals and conferences, offering rich opportunities for further exploration.
Upcoming Courses
Fall 2025 Hip-Hop Studies Courses
The following courses will be offered Fall 2025
AFST 122: ST: Black Women & Popular Culture (T/TH 12:40PM - 2PM)
ENGL 283: ST: Prophetic Hip Hop & the African American Literary Tradition (T/TH 2:10PM - 3:30PM)
FASH 102: African American Dress (MWF 8:10AM - 9AM)
HIST-043: Colloquium on Music, Resistance, & the Black Diaspora (T/TH 3:40PM - 5PM)
MJFC 200: Introduction to Media Production (multiple sections)
MJFC 330: Multimedia Audio Production (multiple sections, *has prerequisites)
THAC 124: Seminar in Hip Hop (T/TH 2:10PM - 3:30PM)
Learning Objectives
The Hip Hop Studies minor will cover the performative aspects of Hip Hop (rap, dance, music, graffiti), helping define and contextualize what it means to perform Hip Hop. The minor will study the role of Hip Hop in the evolution of Black music and culture in America. It also reveals the economic, social, and political factors that have shaped Hip Hop culture globally and how Hip Hop culture has influenced economics, society, and politics around the world.
Foundational Courses
Minors Must Take 2 of the Following 3 Foundational Courses
• AFRO 128: Hip Hop
• AFST 132: Hip Hop & Popular Culture in Africa
• ENGW 104: Writing, Literature, & Discourse (Dr. David Green)
Course Electives
Course Electives
• AFST 122: ST: Black Women & Popular Culture
• ENGL 283: ST: Prophetic Hip Hop & the African American Literary Tradition
• FASH 102: African American Dress
• HIST 043: Music, Resistance & Black Diaspora
• PORT 700: Brazilian Hip Hop
• THAC 124/THFD 21: Seminar in Hip Hop
• THDN 030: Dance History II
• MUSI 033: Entrepreneurship in the Business of Music and Arts
• SOCI 261: Problems of the Black Community
• MJFC 200: Introduction to Media Production
• MJFC 462: Advanced Audio Production *Prerequisite courses include Intro to Media Production, Music in Media, Audio for TV & Film, Podcasting, and Audio Engineering.
• MJFC 330: Multimedia Audio Production *Prerequisites: MJFC 200 Intro to Media Production, MJFC 211 Announcing and Interviewing for audio majors, and MJFC 201 Multimedia Storytelling for journalism majors.
• SLMC 401-01, 402-01, 403-01, 404-01405-01: Practicum-Internship
Additional Optional Electives
• IDSD 155: A Hip Hop Convo on Race (1 hour)
• IDSD 160: Woke Poetry (1 hour)
News and Events
Affiliated Faculty and Staff
College of Arts & Sciences
Dr. Msia Kibona Clark, Director and Faculty Coordinator for the Hip-Hop Studies Minor and Associate Professor of African Studies
Ms. Benita King, Director of Operations, Office of the Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. David Green, Associate Professor of English
Dr. Tammy Brown, Associate Professor of History
School of Communications
Dr. Roger Caruth, Faculty Coordinator for the Hip-Hop Studies Minor and Assistant Professor of Strategic, Legal & Management Communications
Dr. Tia Tyree, Interim Associate Dean, School of Communications
College of Fine Arts
Mr. Timothy Jones, Faculty Coordinator for the Hip-Hop Studies Minor and Lecturer of Theatre Arts
Dr. Elka Stevens, Associate Professor of Art