2020 Teach-In - Beyond the Beat: Hip-Hop as Activism in a World that Doesn't Listen (Session A)

Description: In this teach-in, participants will learn about the history of Hip-Hop Storytelling, including its roots in the African oral tradition. It will allow participants to move beyond the beat and dig deeper into the songs they may be passively consuming every day. Through lecture, large-group and small-group discussion, participants will dissect visuals and lyrics of mainstream Hip-Hop artists such as Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole. The session will help attendees think critically about their relationship to the music they consume and the stories that are being shared.