Hip Hop Hour is an initiative designed to use Hip Hop culture and music to connect students to social justice issues, build self-efficacy, and support identity formation by creating culturally responsive curriculum that reflects the interests and popular culture of the students we serve. Using culturally relevant pedagogical practices, the series will discuss identity, transformation, expression, and other topics that highlight the influence of Hip Hop on life and culture. The objective of the Hip Hop Hour series is three-fold:
- To provide a historical overview of the emergence of hip hop as an artform expressing Black and LatinX culture in the early 1970’s Bronx, New York, to arguably the most popular music artform today.
- Facilitate a conversation about identity and how hip hop has helped to illustrate the experiences of the most marginalized people in society.
- To identify the pillars of hip hop that are central to its culture and visibility.
Upcoming Events
Future dates will be announced soon.
Past Events
April 3, 2024 - The Emergence of Hip Hop in Japan
This session of hip-hop hour featured Dr. Kenia Avendaño Hara, adjunct professor in the Department of World Languages and Literature, who discussed the emergence of hip-hop in Japan and its influence and reflection on culture as hip-hop became a global phenomenon. This open forum is a part of the UAB Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’s Hip Hop Hour series.
March 21, 2024 - Celebrating Women in Hip Hop
This special session of hip hop hour focused on the role women have played in hip hop as well as their evolution within the musical genre. This open forum is a part of the UAB Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’s Hip Hop Hour series.
October 19, 2023 - The Rise of the Hip Hop South
The second session of Hip Hop Hour, led by Dr. Chris Jones, focused on how Atlanta hip hop transformed Southern hip hop from a regional sub-genre, to one of the most powerful influences of hip hop culture. This open forum is a part of the UAB Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’s Hip Hop Hour series.
September 7, 2023 - Celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop
This year, Hip Hop Hour returns to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip hop by exploring its spread to Southern United States. The first session, led by Jamel Smith and Dr. Chris Jones, provided context to how hip hop expanded from a genre created in the Bronx to the huge influence the South has on the art form. This open forum is a part of the UAB Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’s Hip Hop Hour series.
September 13, 2022 - Identity
The first session of Hip Hop Hour discussed identity and explored the influence of Hip Hop on life and culture. This open forum is a part of the UAB Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’s new Hip Hop Hour series.
October 11, 2022 - Transformation
The second session of the series will discuss the evolution of hip hop and the influence of sampling that helped to create the Hip Hop sound and culture. This open forum is a part of the UAB Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’s new Hip Hop Hour series.
November 8, 2022 - Expression
The third session of the series will explore the various forms of expression that has been birthed out of Hip Hop, particularly those who have been most marginalized in society. This open forum is a part of the UAB Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’s new Hip Hop Hour series.