Black Studies, Rap and the Academy

From its hip-hop origins to its major record label status, rap music has reflected the energies and tensions of the black urban scene. At the same time, the "political correctness" wars have spotlighted the critical presence of black studies and issues of multiculturalism in universities across the nation. Rap and black studies converge explosively in Black Studies, Rap, and the Academy, the latest book from a leading African American intellectual. Houston A. Baker, Jr., offers a vigorous commentary on the cultural importance of rap and a passionate argument for the responsibilities of intellectuals to this newest form of urban expression.