FAMU Professor Kawachi Clemons has founded an institute that brings icons of the hip-hop movement to class so students can learn first hand from industry professionals.The Institute for Hip Hop and Music Industry Studies is housed in the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC). Its goal is to present hip hop in a cultural context where students are encouraged to become critically charged to actively participate in a dialogue that addresses the political, social and economic issues impacting their generation.
“The idea came out of an initial desire to develop programming that would appeal to the interests of students,” said Clemons. “My background in music education, arts management and curriculum development gave me the necessary tools to bring this idea to fruition. The collection and dissemination of artistic and linguistic representations of a culture is vital to its preservation.”
As part of the institute’s curriculum, a senior level special topics seminar on hip hop is being offered. The course examines the cultural phenomenon of hip-hop through its development, history, communication style, dance form, music and artistic process.
Throughout the semester, Clemons seeks to encourage students to debate and explore the dynamics of race, gender, youth and class. The course will employ various sources for critical analysis and information including: videos, commercials, movies, songs and other multimedia sources.
Keeping in line with existing institutes such as: Harvard’s Center for Hellenic Studies, The Thelonious Monk Institute at Loyola University and The Center for Black Music Research at Columbia College Chicago, FAMU’s Office of Academic Affairs has developed an institute to further the pursuit of academic research in hip-hop arts and culture.
Hip-hop icon Christopher “Play” Martin, of Kid ‘n Play fame (pictured), currently serves as a professional-in-residence with the Institute for Hip Hop and Music Industry Studies that Clemons directs. Martin, a native of Queens, New York, is no stranger to hip hop. Martin has recorded three successful albums and starred in four hip-hop based comedy films: House Party, House Party 2, Class Act and House Party 3. Now, Martin is the founder of Hp4 Digital Works and Solutions, a multimedia company that provides pre- and post-production for film and digital productions.
Students enrolled in the hip-hop course are delighted as well to have Martin teach the class.
Pagie Moore, a broadcast journalism student, echoed Hollis’ thoughts.
“I am extremely excited to have him teach me,” said Moore. “I am a big fan of hip hop. He [Martin] shares his experiences with us, which is wonderful because he experienced first hand the hip-hop industry.
Moore said that some of her peers cannot wait to enroll in the class next semester.