About this episode
This episode explores the history and cultural significance of hip hop over five decades, featuring discussions on its origins, evolution, and global impact.
In a special conversation event, we chart hip hop’s first five decades, from its birth in the block parties of the Bronx and origins in Jamaica, to commercial gangsta-rap and right up to today’s artists. We discuss how this American revolution in music, dance, and art spread across the global cultural landscape. Hear four speakers passionately bring to life the culture and music – but also political theory, American history, and sociology. With our own sub-genres here in the UK, we’ll look at the key moments that led to this country’s enthusiastic embrace and interpretation of hip-hop, particularly by Afro-Caribbean communities. Part of Futures – a free festival of discovery that celebrates innovative and world-class research taking place at universities across the South West. It’s funded by the UKRI. SPEAKERS MYKAELL RILEY Senior Lecturer College of Design, Creative & Digital Industries University of Westminster. Mykaell is Director of The Black Music Research Unit (BMRU), and senior researcher and curator at the University of Westminster. Central to Mykaell’s research is his work on mapping Black British music. Bass Culture is a response to the disengagement and lack of…
People in this episode
Guest: Mykaell Riley
Topics covered
- hip hop
- music history
- cultural impact
- sociology
- political theory
Keywords
- Bronx
- Jamaica
- gangsta-rap
- Afro-Caribbean communities
- Black British music
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Grammy, Lincoln’s Lost Legacy: The Republican Party and the African American Vote, Neustadt
Places: Bronx, Jamaica, UK, the South West, Britain, Bristol, United States, Northern Ireland
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