Hip-Hop: From A Recreational Pastime to the Classroom and Everything else in Between:
Hip-hop’s Journey from the 1970s to Present (Portfolio)
Tina Whitehead, Spring 2019
Director: Jennifer Maher
Committee Member: Lucille McCarthy
This portfolio examines the genre of hip-hop from its inception to its use as a tool in the world of academia. In order to better understand the genre of hip-hop, I provide a brief history of African American music from the middle passage to hip-hop’s humble beginnings. I identify and trace the elements that are present in hip-hop back to the days of slavery, proving that music is more than just a form of entertainment for people of color. It represents the ways in which African Americans live, love, rejoice, and educate their youth.