Music 148: What Hip Hop Can Teach Us About Philosophy

In this class, we will explore the ways in which hip hop can teach us about philosophy. We will discuss the lyrics of some of the most popular hip hop songs and what they can tell us about the world around us.

Introduction

In Music 148, students explore how hip hop can be used as a tool for learning about philosophical concepts. The course is led by Professor Christopher Medina, who has a passion for both hip hop and philosophy. Professor Medina uses well-known hip hop songs to introduce students to some of the most important ideas in philosophy, including ethics, morality, and social justice. The class also discusses the history of hip hop and its connection to African American culture.

What is Hip Hop?

Hip hop is a genre of music that developed in the United States in the 1970s. It consists of a stylized rhythmic music that is often accompanied by rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted. It developed as part of hip hop culture, which includes the four elements of MCing/rapping, DJing/scratching with turntables, break dancing, and graffiti writing. Other elements include sampling (or synthesis), and beatboxing.

The History of Hip Hop

It is important to note that hip hop is not just a type of music, but a culture with its own history, values, and traditions. The roots of hip hop can be traced back to the Bronx in the 1970s, where African American and Latino youth began to create their own music and style. This new music was influenced by elements of older genres such as jazz, soul, and funk, as well as by the poetries of the Beat Generation. From these humble beginnings, hip hop would grow to become one of the most popular and influential musical genres in the world.

The Elements of Hip Hop

Hip hop is more than just a type of music; it is a culture and a way of life. The elements of hip hop include:

-MCing/rapping: This is the vocal component of hip hop, where artists rhyme over beats.
-DJing: This is the turntablism aspect of hip hop, where DJs mix and scratch records to create new sounds.
-Breaking: Also known as “B-boying” or “B-girling,” this is the creative dance element of hip hop that includes moves such as spinning on one’s back or head.
-Graffiti: This is the visual art element of hip hop, where artists use spray paint or markers to create murals or pieces.

Hip hop is often thought of as being negative because it often deals with themes such as violence, drugs, and crime. However, hip hop can also be positive and uplifting. It can be used as a tool for social change and to promote positive messages.

The Philosophy of Hip Hop

Hip hop, like all music, is a form of expression. The lyrics of hip hop songs often deal with the struggles and triumphs of daily life, but they can also be deeply philosophical. In this course, we will explore the ways in which hip hop can be used to engage with some of the biggest questions in philosophy.

We will start by looking at the work of some of the most influential hip hop philosophers, including Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, and J. Cole. We will then turn to a range of philosophical topics, including ethics, political philosophy, aesthetics, and epistemology. Throughout the course, we will consider how hip hop can help us to critically engage with these topics in new and exciting ways.

The Influence of Hip Hop

Since its inception in the 1970s, hip hop has become one of the most popular genres of music in the world. It is also one of the most controversial, with many people arguing that it promotes violence and drug use. However, hip hop can also be seen as a form of social commentary, and it has been used to raise awareness about important issues such as race, poverty, and gang violence. In recent years, some scholars have even argued that hip hop can be seen as a form of philosophy.

In this course, we will explore the influence of hip hop on society and culture. We will examine the ways in which hip hop artists use their music to express their ideas about life and the world around them. We will also consider the ways in which hip hop has been used to challenge traditional ideas about race, gender, and class. By the end of the course, you should have a better understanding of how hip hop can be used to think critically about important issues in our society.

The Future of Hip Hop

The Future of Hip Hop
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a new form of music called hip hop emerged from the streets of New York City. Hip hop was unlike anything that had come before it, and it quickly became popular around the world. Today, hip hop is one of the most popular genres of music, and its influence can be seen in all aspects of popular culture.

But what is hip hop? And what can it teach us about philosophy?

Hip hop is a type of music that is characterized by its use of rhyming lyrics, bass-heavy beats, and often confrontational lyrics. Hip hop artists often rap about their own personal experiences, social issues, and politics.

While hip hop began as a way for young people to express themselves, it has since grown into much more than that. Hip hop has been used as a vehicle for social and political commentary, and it has also been used to promote positive messages about education, community service, and more.

In recent years, some philosophers have begun to take notice of hip hop and its potential as a tool for philosophical inquiry. These philosophers have argued that hip hop can teach us about important philosophical concepts such as ethics, justice, race, gender, and more.

So far, most of the philosophical work on hip hop has been done by scholars who are not themselves rappers or hip hop fans. This is beginning to change, however, as more philosopher-rappers are beginning to emerge. These philosopher-rappers are using their music to explore philosophical ideas in new and innovative ways.

One of the most famous philosopher-rappers isChance the Rapper. Chance is a rapper from Chicago who first gained attention with his mixtape Acid Rap in 2013. Since then, he has released two more mixtapes (Coloring Bookand The Big Day) and three albums (10 Day, Surf,and The Social Experiment), all of which have received widespread critical acclaim.

Chance’s music is notable for its positive messages about mental health, education, fatherhood, and more. In Chance’s songs, we see a young man who is trying to make sense of the world around him and find his place in it. In doing so, he addresses some of the most pressing issues of our time.

While Chance is not the only philosopher-rapper out there (other notable artists include Killer Mike,[1] MC Ride,[2] Immortal Technique,[3] Aesop Rock,[4] El-P,[5] Freddie Gibbs,[6] Open Mike Eagle,[7] Anderson .Paak,[8] Rapsody,[9] JPEGMAFIA,[10]and many others), he is perhaps the most famous one at present. This is likely due in part to his success in the mainstream music industry—he has won three Grammy Awards[11]and was nominated for several others—but it also reflects his skill as a rapper and songwriter. In addition to his musical talents