We have witnessed the incorporation of hip-hop in many cultures across countries. Communication studies professor and hip-hop expert Murray Forman of Northeastern University has travelled to Europe and has helped many schools and colleges in order to educate and engage them in the hip-hop-hop curricula. The Paris hip-hop festival in June witnessed the best practices between the U. S. and French hip-hop cultures. There were NGOs, social workers, and youth who also attended this event.
Though hip-hop is commonly related to police brutality, criminal cases, school failure, limited employment, and various other social problems, it still remains a complex process delivering various positive lessons. Though it highlights on these social evils, it also possibly provides solutions by witnessing such circumstances. There is a legacy of African-American culture, Latino aesthetic, and the current state of culture and society in hip-hop.
Hip-hop is a crucial element in many places like Cape Town, Dacar, and Rio de Janeiro. This makes it so big economically and globally that it cannot be ignored in academics. Almost ten million people who practice hip-hop carry out hip-hop inflected discourses and practices.
Since this academic model has been established and settled for a longer time in the U.S., other countries seem to be interested in it. And these models ensure scholarly rigour through its better structured academic hip-hop systems.
According to Forman, the best practice between the U.S. and French hip-hop cultures is the interaction between artists, music performers, DJs, and other artists. The process of this collaboration is slower because of the difference between educational systems.
Since France has a stronger connection with hip-hop studies and has a firm connection between French and American artists and entrepreneurs, it makes this country one of the top most collaborators of hip-hop. Apart from having artists who are skilled and talented, France is also well versed in the U.S. hip-hop lore. Forman says that they “care about history and respect architects”.
To conclude, we can witness scholars, NGOs, social workers who engage in hip-hop to understand their needs, interests, and hopes.
Akshara Palshetkar