When most people think of hip-hop, the term “bling-bling” comes to mind. But, what about the term “pedagogical tool”? “Hip-hop as a Pedagogical Tool” is the title of just one of seven topics that will be discussed at the FAU hip-hop symposium in late February.

Two FAU professors, Cleavis Headley, Director of Ethnic Studies, and Michael Zager, head of the Commercial Music program, have organized a panel that will discuss the importance of hip-hop in our society. Zager says, “Hip-hop is a socially important form of popular music because the effect it has on society.”

Hip-hop has evolved into a powerful platform for black voices to be heard, it has also become a huge money making industry. Forbes magazine reports that, “It now generates over $10 billion per year and has moved beyond its musical roots, transforming into a dominant and increasingly lucrative lifestyle.”

The large cross-promotional campaigns that market hip-hop, and other musical genres, may be pressuring rappers to conform to a specific image. This may be eroding the ‘real’ roots of rap music. Bringing hip-hop into academia may help preserve the important values that exist within hip-hop music.

Headley says, “The basic idea behind the symposium is to critically investigate and discuss the phenomenon of hip-hop culture and music through a careful and thoughtful interrogation of the manifold implications of hip-hop for American culture.”

It will be interesting to see if hip-hop becomes more and more about ‘bling-bling’, Escalades, and cash than confronting racial and class related problems that still exist today.

The hip-hop symposium will take place Feb. 26 at 9 a.m. in the Boca campus room PA101. Here is a list of the presenters and their topics:

Trudy Mercadal-Sabbagh (PhD Candidate in Comparative Studies at FAU): “Hip Hop as Pedagogical Tool”

Jimmy Michel (Student, Commercial Music Program, FAU): “One Question”

Richard Shusterman (Eminent Scholar, Philosophy Department, FAU): “Rap and Violence: Between Art and Reality”

Minkah Makalani (Assistant Professor, Department of History, Rutgers University): “Black Liberation, Politics, and the Problem with Hip Hop”

Pero Dagbovie (Assistant Professor, Department of History, Michigan State University): “Of All Our Studies, History is the Best Qualified to Reward Our Research’: Black History’s Relevance to the Hip Hop Generation”

Reginald Jolly (Student, FAU): “Hip Hop 101: An Audiographic History of Hip Hop”

Sujatha Fernandes (Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University): “Hip Hop Culture and Racial Politics in Latin America: Cuba, Brazil, and Venezuela”

For more information, contact the Department of Commercial Music (561) 297-0600.