Hip-Hop for Social Change Ensemble

The Hip-Hop for Social Change Ensemble is dedicated to celebrating and examining the unique history of hip-hop as a tool for social commentary and protest. Each class concentrates on two iconic songs or acts that sought to tell the stories of marginalized people or challenge systems of oppression, followed by rehearsal of live arrangements of these works. Students learn the "5 elements” of hip-hop, the socioeconomic and political influences that birthed hip-hop and the stories of how these important songs came to fruition. To build performance technique, students study the artists’ audio and video recordings to incorporate the elements that designate the era and regional sound from which the artist hails. Students consider how their historical knowledge reveals itself through stylistic integrity, movement, lyrical pronunciation and/or delivery as well as attire. At the end of the semester, the students perform a full set that pays homage to these influential compositions, complete with produced backing tracks, live arrangements, and attire authentic to the era and artist. This course studies the music and contributions of past and current artists such as KRS-One, Queen Latifah, Public Enemy, The Roots, Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), Talib Kweli, Tupac Shakur, The Fugees, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole.