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11/25 News: Hip Hop

Even though hip-hop is only 30 years old, McNally Smith officials say the urban culture of rap has become a dominating commercial force and deserves serious study. Students say they enjoy the chance to learn from established rappers and DJs.

College classes on the language of hip-hop or how to work turntables are not new. Berklee College of Music in Boston held its annual Business of Hip-Hop Symposium in October and has had visits from pioneering hip-hop DJ Grandmaster Flash and rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison recently hosted a semester-long fall lecture series on hip-hop. Marcyliena Morgan, a professor at Harvard University, founded The Hiphop Archive in 2002. However, McNally Smith is offering a full, 45-credit, three-semester hip-hop program. Courses include “Deejay Techniques,” ”Diaspora of African Music” and “The Language of Rap and Spoken Word III.” The school hopes that hip-hop graduates will then enter McNally Smith’s two- or four-year programs, where those students can apply some of their credits.

The Hip-Hop Hall of Fame Museum & Entertainment Complex says it's halfway toward reaching its goal of opening in New York City by late 2010 after securing $10 million in funding. The HHHOF has two arms - the non-profit HHHOF Museum Foundation, which will oversee the museum, exhibits and community outreach with pioneers of rap, and the for-profit HHHOF Global Media Group, which will operate the restaurant, retail gift shop, concert lounge, TV studios, co-branded entertainment divisions, merchandising, special events, and corporate partnerships. The Advisory Board members include rap legends Grandmaster Caz of the Cold Crush Bros, Rock Hall inductee Melle Mel, Kurtis Blow, Pebblee Poo, L.A. Sunshine and Kool Herc.