SEATTLE CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE

DIVISION OF HUMANITIES/SOCIAL SCIENCE

HUM 125: Hip-Hop Theory and Culture

Syllabus

“Beyond the walls of intelligence

life is defined…”

-Nas

Instructor: Dr. Daudi Abe Quarter: Spring 2007

Contact: 587-4164 Day/Time: Mon-Fri 10-10:50 am

dabe@sccd.ctc.edu Office: 4150

Course Description: Hip-hop culture, and rap music in particular, has emerged as the signature medium for transformative expression in the aftermath of the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Today hip-hop culture is firmly entrenched within the larger global community. Music, entertainment, fashion, politics, and education are just some of the areas that have become increasingly influenced by hip-hop culture.

This course endeavors to identify and critically examine the theoretical foundations of hip-hop culture and rap music. Through a rigorous interrogation of the evolution within this genre, students will develop a clear understanding of the conceptual fundamentals of hip-hop philosophy and the community from which it originated. Further consideration will be given to the implications that the background, music, style, and influence of the hip-hop generation have upon a multicultural nation and world.

Course Objective: Since the 1970s, rap music has grown into a steady and undeniable voice of protest, change and celebration for urban young people. What gives this art form added significance, however, is that it was created, authored, and today is still dominated primarily by young African American males, who have perennially maintained a status as one of the most disenfranchised groups in the short history of the United States. Rap music and hip-hop culture have provided a platform of expression with mass appeal that has given a voice to a segment of society often left silent. This course will employ the transformative nature of hip-hop culture as a lens for teaching and learning about how important issues such as racism, oppression, and poverty affect people’s lives. The use of this particular lens in approaching these problems will attempt to promote further development of critical analysis and thinking skills within the student, which is the primary goal of this course.

Student Outcomes: The United States is highly unique in the incredible amount of racial, ethnic, cultural, and economic diversity it possesses. Thus, it is imperative that its citizens possess the willingness and ability to relate to and understand individuals with different backgrounds. The inclusive nature and broad appeal of hip-hop culture make it an ideal conceptual tool to explore the dynamics of oppression within society at large. A successful student in this course will:

Increase his or her skill development in critical thinking, reading, and writing.
Further their knowledge base of social issues and ideas within an increased frame of reference.
Develop the ability to sort and decode messages of transformation and oppression.
Become familiar with the role and contributions of hip-hop culture to humanity.
Understand their own place as a potential difference maker and positive contributor in the world.

In addition, please respect the course, other students, and yourself by silencing your cell phones during class.

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADES

§ Class Discussion and Participation 100 points

§ Music Journal 250 points

§ Reflection/Response Papers 200 points

§ Midterm Examination 200 points

§ Final Research Project 250 points

ASSIGNMENTS

5 Complete Disc Journal Entries Throughout the quarter 3-6 pages

Reflection/Response Papers Throughout the quarter 2-4 pages

Midterm Examination Mid-quarter One class session

Final Research Paper End of quarter 8-12 pages

1. Class Discussion and Participation: All students are expected to attend

class regularly. Although it is understood that perfect attendance is not realistic for every student, chronic tardiness and absence will have an adverse affect on a student’s ability to remain informed and connected to the inner workings of the course. During class sessions, it is the student’s responsibility to keep a critical eye and ear tuned to the materials presented and topics discussed. As not every student is comfortable offering comments and opinions in a large group setting, there will be sufficient opportunity for students to engage in dialogue and discussion in small and mini-group situations.

50 points will be earned by participating in one of 5 CD discussion groups. Each group will be responsible for presenting a critical review of one entire disc included in the course anthology to the class. Students also are expected to remain current with course reading and listening assignments. Assigned readings should be completed in advance of the time they appear on the course calendar. Reading preparedness on the part of students contributes to richer understanding of lectures and deeper class discussions. Student interactions with assigned materials should help to develop a sense of the major themes and concepts contained within.

2. Music Journal: Students will be assigned a series of 5 Compact Discs containing selected rap artists and songs available for check out from the Media Lab in the library. The content of this discography comes with two purposes. One is to highlight songs and artists that made original and significant contributions to hip-hop music and culture. The second purpose is to use the music to gain insight into what the important issues of that particular period were, both for hip-hop culture as well as the greater world. The discography will be chronologically arranged to cover hip-hop’s beginnings and continue to the present. Each disc will feature tracks that require the student to listen, reflect, and complete brief journal entries for each song. Each journal entry should be 1-3 paragraphs and be a mixture of summary, critical analysis, and opinion and reaction. Make sure you use quotes from each song to help make your point (one resource for lyrics is www.ohhla.com). Each journal will be collected approximately every other week.

3. Reflection/Response Papers: Throughout the quarter guest speakers, video presentations and special readings will be presented to the class. Various members of the hip-hop community will serve as guest speakers discussing current and future issues surrounding rap music and hip-hop culture, as well as related issues. Videos will include documentaries and movies that capture and express the spirit of the culture. Students will prepare critical responses to these portions of the curriculum that will generally range anywhere from 2-4 pages. In writing these assignments, you are expected reference course readings to support your point whenever possible.

4. Midterm Examination: The midterm examination will be broken into three sections that cover four separate types of assessment. There will be a multiple-choice section, a short answer section, and a long answer section that will feature an essay question with an artistic component. Questions will be drawn from course readings and class lectures, and an in-class review session will take place prior to the exam. The test will take one entire class session and is “closed note.”

5. Final Research Project: This assignment requires you to write an 8-12 page research paper that examines and critically evaluates an element or issue related to hip-hop culture. The topic may be completely independent of anything covered in the class so long as it relates to the course subject. Hip-hop has spread across racial, ethnic, gender, socio-economic, political, educational, and occupational boundaries in a way that has brought it into contact with virtually every part of society. This makes the topical possibilities wide and vast while allowing for a tremendous amount of flexibility in deciding which way to go with this project. A basic outline and grading rubric for this paper are included in this syllabus. Topics must be cleared through the instructor.

NOTE: This assignment should be written in a formal academic, third person style. Avoid first person references such as “I think,” and “in my opinion.”

**All assignments must be typed, double spaced (except for music journals), spell checked, stapled, and submitted in a timely manner. Late assignments will receive only half credit unless prior arrangements are made. Exam make-ups must be scheduled in advance.

All headings on written assignments must include the following:

Student’s Full Name

Course Title and Number

Date Submitted

A short, concise, and meaningful title

NOTE: There may be language within this course that some people could find objectionable. Be that as it may, the issues discussed within these materials are important enough to the culture of the course to warrant this exercise of my discretion.

Plagiarism: Use of another person’s words or ideas as your own without proper citation is plagiarism. It is a serious offense in any educational setting and can result in expulsion. Suspected cases of plagiarism are reviewed by the Conduct and Standards Committee, which deals with academic/student misconduct.

Americans with Disabilities Act: If you need course adaptations or accommodation because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with your instructor, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with your instructor as soon as possible.

Course Schedule:

Topical Outline and Major Units:

1. Roots: 1979-1984

§ The Block

§ DJs, MCs, and NYC

§ Rapper’s Delight

§ “The Fire This Time”/Sociological and Psychological Factors

2. Epidemic: The Crack Years, 1985-1989

§ B-Girls & B-Boys

§ The West Coast & “The Strength of Street Knowledge”

§ Politics and Consciousness

§ New Jack City

3. The Next Level: 1990-1994

§ The G-Funk Era

§ Death Row

§ The South Rises Again

§ New School

4. East vs. West: 1995-1999

§ Tupac Shakur

§ Notorious B.I.G.

§ Bling Bling

§ High Fashion

5. Apocalypse Now: 2000-present

§ Global figures

§ Marketing Machine

§ Eminem

§ Edutainment vs. Entercation

Textbook/Supplementary Readings and Audio Media:

1. Toop, D. (2000). Rap Attack #3. Serpent’s Tail.

2. Simmons, R. (2001). Life and Def. Crown.

3. Additional selected readings/articles

4. 5 Volume CD Set featuring various rap music selections.

OUTLINE FOR FINAL RESEARCH PROJECT

HUM 125

Title of Your Research Project

Section 1: Introduction/Personal Statement

§ Discuss what drew you to this topic.

§ Explain why you feel this is an important or relevant topic to examine.

Section 2: Literature/Media Review

§ What was the amount of material you were able to find on this topic?

§ What do previous writings, music, or other types of media say about the background of your topic? (You must discuss and cite at least 4 sources: only 2 of them can be websites)

§ What are the tones of these sources? (pro, con)

§ Include quotes and citations

Section 3: Evaluation, Discussion, and Conclusion

§ What is the current state of the topic you have researched?

§ What does the future look like for your topic?

§ Who or what are the dominant factors that will play important roles in your topic down the road?

Section 4: Bibliography/List of References

§ List all sources for quotations, statistics and figures, and other referenced information included in the research paper.

HUM 125 Final Research Project

Criteria used for evaluating Final Research Paper in

Hip-Hop Theory & Culture

_________________________________________________________

1. The extent to which your paper is organized into sections according to the outline provided in the course syllabus.

Rating 1 2 3 4 5

2. The extent to which your paper incorporates outside research, theory, and/or established opinions of others.

Rating 1 2 3 4 5

3. The extent to which you critically discuss and review your selected topic.

Rating 1 2 3 4 5

4. The extent to which you properly cite and give credit for the ideas of the authors and researchers that are incorporated into your paper.

Rating 1 2 3 4 5

5. The extent to which your paper is properly presented (including a cover page, use of 12-point font, double spacing, use of correct grammar, proofing, and spelling).

Rating 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL POINTS: ________

250

HUM 125: Hip-Hop Theory and Culture

Grade Sheet

Name:__________________________________ Qtr/Year_________________

1. Attendance & Participation ___________ 50 points

a) Music Journal/Group Analysis ___________ 50 points

2. Music Journal ___________ 250 points

3. Reflection/Response Papers ___________ 200 points

4. Midterm Examination ___________ 200 points

5. Final Research Project ___________ 250 points

TOTAL ___________1000 points

GRADE ___________