Georgia State University launches hip-hop studies consortium - Atlanta Business Chronicle
Georgia State University is launching is a hip-hop studies consortium. Georgia State University has launched a hip-hop studies consortium, an initiative from the university's Center for Studies on Africa and Its Diaspora and the Africana Studies Department. The consortium aims to enhance the academic understanding of hip-Hop and its culture, focusing on the importance of this initiative in Atlanta, which has produced big names in hip hop such as Outkast, Ludacris and T.I. The initiative will offer a hip hop fellowship program, inviting figures from the hip hop world to visit GSU for at least a week and give lectures, classrooms, and meeting with associated faculty members. In March, rapper Akua Naru and South African break dancer Emile YX? were the first fellow attendees. Other universities including Harvard and the University of California Los Angeles have also established research institutes and initiatives centered around hip hop studies.
Published : 4 weeks ago by Rachel Cohen Noebes in Entertainment Business
It's an initiative from the university's Center for Studies on Africa and Its Diaspora and the Africana Studies Department.
“This is something I’ve been thinking about for about 10 years," said Lakeyta Bonnette-Bailey, professor in the Africana Studies Department and director of the consortium. "The consortium is focused on the academic understanding of hip-hop and its culture."
Atlanta has produced big names in hip-hop such as Outkast, Ludacris and T.I.
Last fall, Atlanta producers Dallas Austin and Jermaine Dupri opened a temporary exhibit in Underground Atlanta to honor the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
“With us being in Atlanta, which has been deemed a hip-hop mecca, it’s essential that we have this consortium,” Bonnette-Bailey said.
The consortium will offer a hip-hop fellowship program, inviting figures from that world to visit GSU for at least a week. While scholars, artists, activists, or other members of the community visit the Atlanta campus, they will give a lecture, visit classrooms and meet with associated faculty members.
In March, hip-hop artist, activist and poet Akua Naru, the first fellow, came to GSU. This month, South African break dancer Emile YX? will come for a week.
Universities including Harvard and the University of California Los Angeles have also set up research institutes and initiatives centered around hip-hop studies.
Topics: Academia