Global Conference on Hip Hop Education
We look forward to seeing you in person or virtually in November 2023.
2023 Global Conference on Hip Hop Education
Call for Proposals - due September 10th, 2023
November 8-10th, 2023 *Link to registration
California State University Long Beach
Co-Chairs: Tasha Iglesias, Ed.D, Hip Hop Association of Advancement and Education (HHAAE), Manny Faces, Hip Hop Can Save America, & Cindy Macias, HHAAE
“From the Golden Era to the Golden State”
Sponsored by:
The 2023 Global Conference on Hip Hop Education will expand upon our previous theme, which focused on the foundation of the culture and explore how this culture both migrated out of New York to states like California (i.e. the Golden State), and into popular culture and academia in the late 1970s to mid-1980s. Our conference theme “From the Golden Era to the Golden State,” will guide us as we explore the foundation of this culture, understand what brought about an increase in cultural diffusion, and how lessons learned from the golden era can inform current pedagogies, interventions, research, scholarship and practices.
Some of the first research conducted on Hip Hop was done by graduate students. David Cook is credited for writing the first thesis on Hip Hop titled “The Power of Rap” in 1987. When Cook (1987) began researching Hip Hop, scholarly research was almost non-existent, and he had to cite himself; Katel (2007) explains that “Cook ended up citing Davey D - the alias [David Cook] still uses as a hip-hop journalist - as somebody quoted in Bomb magazine” (p. 1).
As a Chair, I am asking our community to go back to this timeline. I am inviting proposals that review the early published text and studies on Hip Hop. This conference will explore a thesis on Hip Hop by Bboy Stephen “Buddha” Leafloor written in 1986 for Carleton University in Ottawa Canada; this thesis may be the first academic text published on Hip Hop; but more research and discussion is needed.
Later, in the early 1990s, several scholars would focus their dissertation studies on Hip Hop including: Cheryl Keyes (1991) who wrote “Rappin to the beat: rap music as street culture among African Americans,” and Tricia Rose (1993) who wrote ''Black Noise: Rap Music and Black Culture in Contemporary America''. These and a few other sources are considered the first published academic text on Hip Hop, since the 1990s much more has been published on this culture but like these studies, focuses mostly on rap music or lyrical analysis. Because of this, we are asking that all researchers and speakers include multiple elements when presenting.
The field however is only 40 years young and research on Hip Hop as a culture and its impact is limited; Alridge and Stewart (2020) explain that “very few academic historical studies have examined the phenomenon” (p. 190). Due to the lack of research, being a Scholar of Hip Hop can be daunting, especially when trying to utilize data to support your arguments for using Hip Hop in the classroom or other educational settings. It is our hope that this conference will help build your network, provide you with support, and create a community that shares-out our best practices and research aimed at empowering our communities through Hip Hop. We look forward to joining, and building with you, at our 2023 Global Conference on Hip Hop Education!
Tasha Iglesias, Ed.D
Co-Chair, Global Conference on Hip Hop Education
President, HHAAE
Presenters from all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome to present at the Global Conference on Hip Hop Education. Mentors are available if needed to assist you with your proposal. Please email: HHAAEConference@gmail.com
Conference Schedule and Program
Wednesday, November 8th, 2023
9:00-9:30 am (PST)
CSULB & HHAAE Welcome
Presenters: Tasha Iglesias, Manny Faces, Dr, Don Haviland, Monk Mattheaus, Cindy Macias, Dr. Michael Dando, Kendrick Cummings, Emile Jansen
Location: GCHHE Headquarters (Zoom)
9:30-10:30 am (PST)
Year One Hip Hop: Embedding Hip Hop Pedagogy into a First Year Writing Course
Presenters: Craig Arthur, Community Engagement Coordinator, University Libraries Virginia Tech University; Table Rok Crew, Dr. Spencer Bennington: Instructor - Department of English;
Dr. Freddy Paige: Assistant Professor - Civil & Environmental Engineering
Location: GCHHE Headquarters (Zoom)
Presentation Summary: VTDITC: Hip Hop Studies at Virginia Tech is an award-winning series of experiential learning-focused community engagement programs in Southwest Virginia that was founded in 2016. The VTDITC team partnered with a first-year writing instructor, Dr. Spencer Bennington, to embed Hip Hop pedagogy into the four sections of his English 1105 team. We look forward to sharing the lessons we have learned from this ongoing project with you.
10:30-11:30 am (PST)
Soul Train’s Chicago Roots and the Show’s Impact on Proliferation of Hip Hop During the Golden Era
Presenter: Basia “Basha” Krupa: Linguist, researcher, writer, dancer, and instructor at Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago; Darrell ‘Artistic’ Roberts: Curator, docent, historian, and co-founder of Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum representing All Hip Hop's Elements
Location: GCHHE Headquarters (Zoom)
Presentation Summary: Soul Train— widely regarded a global cultural phenomenon— was forged and first aired in Chicago on August 17th, 1970. In 1971, its creator and host, Don Cornelius, capitalized on the opportunity to move the production to L.A. During the Golden Era of Hip Hop, the show spotlighted Hip Hop artists, thus playing a major role in the culture’s further diffusion. The presentation will focus on the ‘hippest trip in America’s Chicago roots and highlight the dance and dancers as the torch bearers within the culture.
11:30-11:45 am (PST)
Putting the “Global” in GCHHE
Presenter: Monk Matthaeus, HHAAE
Location: GCHHE Headquarters (Zoom)
Presentation Summary: The “Zulu Rema” initiative.
11:45-12:45 pm (PST)
Visualizing Rap: A Critical Investigation of Transcription Processes in Music Scholarship
Presenter: Michael Berry, Orchestra Teacher, Puyallup, WA School District
Location: GCHHE Headquarters (Zoom)
Presentation Summary: Most scholarship on rap music necessitates that an aural/oral art form be transcribed into some sort of visual representation of the lyrics, the music, or both. This presentation surveys the evolution of the major approaches to transcription, mainly in the music studies disciplines, and evaluates their strengths and weaknesses. I conclude with an exploration of the ethics of transcription in the context of academic study of rap music.
12:45-1:45 pm (PST)
YONKERS The Lost City Of Hip-Hop
Presenters: Andrew Wang, Music Teacher, Yonkers Lost City of Hip Hop
Location: GCHHE Headquarters (Zoom)
Presentation Summary: Hip-hop is a musical movement that emerged in the Bronx in the 1970s, but it also grew and developed in Yonkers, a city that has produced some of the most influential artists and pioneers of the genre. In this presentation, I will explore and go through the foundational timeline and how Yonkers contributed to the evolution of hip-hop, from the early DJ battles, parties, practitioners ,Graffiti artists and dancers. Decades before the rise of global stars like DMX, Mary J. Blige, and Jadakiss. I will use pictures, flyers, and documents to illustrate the history and impact of Yonkers’ hip-hop scene, as well as readings from the book with testimonies from practitioners and venue owners who witnessed and participated in the growth of the culture. I will also discuss how Yonkers’ hip-hop legacy is being celebrated and preserved today, as the genre marks its 50th anniversary. My presentation aims to show that Yonkers is not only a lost city of hip-hop, but also a vital and vibrant part of its past, present, and future.
1:45-2:00 pm (PST)
Putting the “Global” in GCHHE
Presenter: Monk Matthaeus, HHAAE
Location: GCHHE Headquarters (Zoom)
Presentation Summary: HHAAE’s “Afghanistan Breakers” Initiative
2:00-3:30 pm (PST)
Keynote
We came for the Hiphop - But stayed for the Healing
Keynote: Stephen "Buddha" Leafloor; Blueprint For Life, Canadian Floor Masters, ashokacanada.org
Presentation Summary: Old School Bboy Buddha takes us on a journey of healing and self reflection as he talks about the trauma he survived as a youth and how this led him to founding "The Canadian Floor Masters". Diving deep into the healing nature of Hip Hop he has used bboying to not only heal himself but also develop some of the world's most sophisticated Hip Hop outreach programing. Their current work is considered Canada's largest group therapy programing in the history of Canada's corrections system, and it all grew out of Hip Hop. He completed his Masters Thesis in Social Work in 1988 on Hip Hop and has contributed chapters to a number of books including "Therapeutic Uses of Rap and Hip Hop" and "The Oxford Handbook of Hip Hop Dance Studies" . He has performed for the likes of James Brown, IceT, George Clinton, Public Enemy and GrandMaster Flash. Father of 3 and Foreva a Bboy!
3:30-4:30 pm (PST)
Broken Promises: Developing a Practice of Listening and Attuning to Feminists in Breaking
Presenter: Jason “J-Sun” Noer
Location: GCHHE Headquarters (Zoom)
Presentation Summary: Breaking prioritizes the value of respect, which is connected to the physical movements of the dance form. However, despite promoting this value, Breaking faces a threat from within: unaddressed and continued sexual harassment and assault. In response to the misogyny and disregard that women have experienced, I argue that Breaking communities need to develop a practice of listening and attuning to feminists and what they are saying with their dancing and words.
4:30-5:30 pm (PST)
Breakin Out on the Olympics: A Disco Pedagogy
Presenters: Lane “LaneSki” Davey, Lecturer, University of Hawai‘i Mānoa/ Seattle Circuit Breakers
Location: GCHHE Headquarters (Zoom)
Presentation Summary: B-Girl LaneSki (since 1983) discusses the significance of breakdancing’s inaugural debut in the Paris 2024 Olympics, noting its potential to disrupt and reconstruct traditional sport through the fundamental fusion methodologies that hold breakin and the other four foundational Hip Hop elements together.
5:30-6:00 pm (PST)
From Hip Hop to Hope
Presenter: Changxin Li, Cherry Li, GSOE undergraduate students
Location: GCHHE Headquarters (Zoom)
Presentation Summary: In the presentation, my purpose is to identify the importance of Hip Hop pedagogy and how programs or organizations can help youth and students to learn more about Hip Hop and its power in education.
6:00-6:40 pm (PST)
Unleashing Hip-Hop Energy. A Screening of Research-Based Film Shorts on Hip-Hop Culture, Professional Identity & Justice-Based Work
Presenter: Toby S. Jenkins, PhD, Professor of Higher Education, Associate Provost for Faculty Development, University of South Carolina; Tony Keith, Jr, PhD, CEO & Founder of Ed Emcee Academy; Crystal L. Endsley, PhD, Associate Professor, Africana Studies, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Location: Redondo Beach (Capacity: 40)
Presentation Summary: 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop culture which, as a global industry and phenomenon, has accomplished a lot. But as a culture, what has hip-hop taught us? How has it inspired us? In what ways has it freed us? This session presents three complimentary takes on how hip-hop culture influences and advances the lives of educators and their educational practice. Three scholars will each share a short film documenting their work in hip-hop education and research (three 10-15 minute informative videos with a short scholar talk back after each).
6:40-7:00pm (PST)
Rap-up
Presenters: Cindy Macias, Lane Davey, LaneSki, Lecturer, University of Hawai‘i Mānoa/ Seattle Circuit Breakers
Location: GCHHE Headquarters (Zoom)
___________________________________
Virtual Sessions
Shaping Identity in Jail: Young L’s Path to Self-Rediscovery
Presenter: Big Frey
Presentation Summary: In this presentation, we will delve into the transformative power of therapeutic work within underserved communities, weaving in stories of youths who found themselves on a path to incarceration. We'll spotlight the journey of 'L', a 16-year-old who, having been detained for criminal offenses, awaited his transition into adulthood, and with it, a move to a conventional prison. We'll share the methods and strides 'L' took in his personal growth, how he sculpted his identity, built relationships, and how all of this shaped the world around him.
________________________________________
Thursday, November 9th, 2023
9:00-9:30 am (PST)
Registration Opens at 9:00 am (PST)
Music by DJ Manny Faces
Gallery Walk: UCR Students
Vendors Showcase
9:30-10:00 am (PST)
CSULB Welcome
Presenters: Dr. Haviland, Dr. Anna Ortiz & Dr. Tasha Iglesias
Location: Beach Auditorium (Capacity: 200)
10:00-10:15 am (PST)
Break
10:15-11:15 am (PST)
TBD
Presenter:
Location: Beach Auditorium (Capacity: 200)
Presentation Summary:
Status:
Award Tour - How and Why Hip Hop Needs to Honor Itself
Presenters: Mikal Amin Lee, Writer/Assoc Editor, Words Beats & Life ; Dr. Jason Nichols/Mazi Mustafa
Location: Hermosa Beach (Capacity: 40)
Presentation Summary: The late and great Phife Dawg of aTribe Called Quest once spit, “I don’t need a plaque to tell me how nice I am”. Through a discussion contextualizing and expanding on the inaugural “Rap Laureate” award and magazine presented by Words Beats & Life, co-authors Jason Nichols and Mikal Amin Lee and Words Beats & Life founder, Mazi Mustafa discuss the importance of community scholarship, Hip-Hop’s inherent pedagogy and why the Rap Laureate is an acknowledgement and celebration of Hip Hop’s most important element, knowledge.
Hip-Hop Therapy 101 - Using Music & Culture to Support Student Mental Health
Presenter: Yocasta “Yogi the Hip Hop Therapist” Jimenez, CEO/Executive Director, Teens Under Construction, the Home of Hip-Hop Therapy; Shamar Watson LMSW, COO of Teens Under Construction
Location: Redondo Beach (Capacity: 40)
Presentation Summary: This workshop will provide educators, school leaders, and community members with practical strategies for incorporating hip-hop culture in education in meaningful and impactful ways.
“It’s Just Beat Making Right?” STEAM, Therapeutic Beat Making and Why Making Beats Matter
Presenter: Dr. Elliot Gann aka Phillipdrummond of Today’s Future Sound
Location: Venice Beach (Capacity: 25)
Presentation Summary: This session will address the nuanced and multidimensional aspects of STEAM/STEM, intercultural understanding/learning and therapeutic aspects of the Today’s Future Sound and Therapeutic Beat Making (TBM) model. Hands-on, interactive beat making activities will be included as well as an intoxication to understanding what trauma is, what the difference between PTSD and Complex/Developmental Trauma is, and how and why that relates to Hip Hop and beat making as an effective intervention for many students, artists, and community members.
11:15-11:30 am (PST)
Break
11:30-12:30 pm (PST)
How Hip Hop Grew on the West Cost: An Interview with a Pioneer
Presenter: Monk Matthaeus, HHAAE, Kendrick Cummings, HHAAE; DJ Alonzo Williams, World Class Wreckin' Cru
Location: Beach Auditorium (Capacity: 200)
Presentation Summary: This session will be a conversation with DJ Alonzo Williams of the West Coast pioneering group, the World Class Wreckin' Cru. The conversation will be facilitated and moderated by HHAAE board members, Monk Matthaeus and Kendrick Cummings.
THA BLUPRNT for Camp: Evolving a Hip-Hop Music Education Ecosystem
Presenters: Lamont Holden, Clinical Assistant Professor of Audio & Recording Technologies
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Adam Kruse, Associate Professor of Music Education University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Ti Steele, Independent Artist
Location: Hermosa Beach (Capacity: 40)
Presentation Summary: This session will explore the design and growth of a summer Hip-Hop Camp for youth hosted at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The camp’s “BLUPRNT” is centered on youth expression through original music making that prioritizes community building, remixes roles for teachers and learners, and contributes to an evolving and expanding Hip-Hop music education ecosystem. The presentation will include recontextualizing principles and concepts from Stephen “Budda” Leafloor’s organization, BluePrintForLife.
“It’s Just Beat Making Right?” STEAM, Therapeutic Beat Making and Why Making Beats Matter (Cont…)
Presenter: Dr. Elliot Gann aka Phillipdrummond of Today’s Future Sound
Location: Venice Beach (Capacity: 25)
Presentation Summary: This session will address the nuanced and multidimensional aspects of STEAM/STEM, intercultural understanding/learning and therapeutic aspects of the Today’s Future Sound and Therapeutic Beat Making (TBM) model. Hands-on, interactive beat making activities will be included as well as an intoxication to understanding what trauma is, what the difference between PTSD and Complex/Developmental Trauma is, and how and why that relates to Hip Hop and beat making as an effective intervention for many students, artists, and community members.
12:30-2:00 pm (PST)
Gallery Walk
Location: Beach Auditorium (Capacity: 200)
Presentation Summary: Grab some lunch, listen to some good music and join us in the Beach Auditorium to view student poster presentations by students from the University of California, Riverside!
1:15-2:15 pm (PST)
Hip Hop and Accessibility
Presenter: Nathan Geering Accessibility Innovator Rationale Method
Location: Hermosa Beach (Capacity: 40)
Presentation Summary: This talk will highlight the ground-breaking ways in which Hip-Hop can not only treat elements of depression anxiety and PTSD, but also how it can enhance accessibility for people with disabilities.
Innovating culture: Hip-hop Education, Healing, and Community Building
Presenters: Anthony Pineda, Creatrix Institute LLC
Location: Venice Beach (Capacity: 25)
Presentation Summary: We will explore the ways in which Hip-hop provides emotional intelligence, learning, and healing for youth in any educational setting. Anthony has been working with youth from all walks of life, building ways to engage youth disenfranchised by systems such as education and mental health. With a brief review of the Hip-hop Leadership Academy © (HHLA) we will uncover how it works and experience a small dose of the power of hip-hop in a learning environment. Be prepared to unleash the power of narrative and discuss your ideas for our culture.
2:15-2:30 pm (PST)
Break
2:30-3:30 pm (PST)
From Gang Bangers to Gods: Building Community and Collectivism Through The Culture
Presenter: Marlon “Unlearn the World” Richardson, Hip Hop For Change, Inc.
Location: Hermosa Beach (Capacity: 40)
Presentation Summary: MC Producer and Educator UnLearn The World covers the history of Social Justice and Spiritual Movements within BIPOC communities like the Black Panthers, 5% Nation and their influence on Hip Hop culture from the late 60s to present day. We will unpack the challenges of communal responsibility within Hip Hop amidst a heavy consumer capitalist society that emphasizes individualism, all the while covering best practices to leverage Hip Hop
collectivism to build community among students in the classroom. The presentation will include creative activities in MC’ing and Beat Making.
From Dope to Data: Hip Hop and Empowerment on the Shoulders of Giants
Presenter: Raphael Travis Jr., Professor at Texas State University; Director of FlowStory PLLC
Location: Redondo Beach (Capacity: 40)
Presentation Summary: Dr. Travis investigates creative arts, especially Hip-Hop culture, as a source of health and well-being. In this session interactive exercises will help illuminate lessons learned from the Golden Era of Hip Hop culture and how they inform current pedagogies, interventions, research, scholarship and practices. We will emphasize expressive and receptive ways of engaging beats, hooks, and lyrics for empowerment, offering tangible resources for participants to experience and replicate later in their own practices - whether it is educational, therapeutic, research, or self-care.
Status: Unconfirmed
Rap-Up Prep Room
Presenters: Manny Faces and Tasha Iglesias, Ed.D
Location: Venice Beach (Capacity: 25)
Presentation Summary: This room will be used to prepare for the 3:15 pm Rap-up. Please stop-by the Venice Beach room to leave a note throughout the day, film a quick segment, or share a thought or two! Participants are also welcome to stay in this room if they would like to co-host the Rap-up at 3:15 pm with Manny Faces.
3:30-4:00 pm (PST)
Rap-Up
Host: Manny and Tasha & Guest Hosts!
Location: Hermosa (Viewing), Redondo (Viewing), Venice Beach (Live Streaming)
Presentation Summary: Room will be used to prep for the Rap-up. Please stop-by to leave a note, film a quick segment, or share a thought.
7:00 pm - 12:00 am (PST)
#BeatCypherSPMk2
Host: Phillipdrummond, Today’s Future Sound, Organic Beat Sessions & JDC
Location: JDC Records, 447 W 6th, San Pedro, CA 90731
______________________________________
Friday, November 10th, 2023
10:00-12:00 pm (PST)
Breakfast Mixer
Location: El Dorado East Regional Park, 7550 East Spring Street, Long Beach, CA 90815
Presentation Summary: Mixer *Please look for black and teal balloons!
GCHHE Plenary
Presenters: Manny Faces, Tasha Iglesias, Ed.D, Emile Jansen
Location: GCHHE Headquarters (Recorded Session)
Presentation Summary: We will discuss how Hip Hop became a global phenomena and how it continues to transcend borders across the world.
12:00-3:00 pm (PST)
BBQ
Presenters: HHAAE Executive Board Members
Location: El Dorado East Regional Park
Presentation Summary: In this in-person plenary session, we will explore lessons learned and will develop actionable plans to promote the Hip Hop culture and its ability to act as a source of empowerment.
1:00-2:00 pm (PST)
Bringing the Cypher to the Music Classroom: Disrupting Traditional Eurocentric Music Education in the U.S. through Cypher-Based Pedagogy
Presenter: Tony Sauza, Music Educator, Arts for Well-Being, CSULB
Location: El Dorado Regional Park (Recording be uploaded in Moodle after the event)
Presentation Summary: For over thirty years, Hip Hop educators have worked to integrate cypher-based pedagogy throughout the world of education. However, much of this work has occurred through disciplines outside of music education. This session explores the current disconnect between Hip Hop education and music education in K-12 classrooms, while providing a space to discuss pathways for disrupting a largely exclusionary and unresponsive form of Eurocentric traditional music education.
Rap-Up
Presenter: Tony Sauza, Music Education Lecturer, CSULB
Location: Moodle (Asynchronous)
Important Dates:
-
GCHHE Volunteer/Staff Dinner: Wednesday, November 7th, 2023
-
GCHHE Day One [Live Streamed Online]: Wednesday, November 7th, 2023
-
GCHHE Day Two [In-person/Hybrid - CSULB]: Thursday, November 8th, 2023
-
GCHHE Day Three [Professional Development & BBQ In-person, Asynchronous Sessions/Pre-recorded Sessions]: Friday, November 10th, 2023
-
GCHHE Mixer: Friday, November 10th, 2023
Please email HHAAEConference@gmail.com with any proposed changes after the September 3rd deadline and be sure to include all other presenters in your email as well.
We are encouraging our presenters to upload their papers prior to the conference. HHAAE will email a request in October of 2023. Papers may be included in a special edition of an academic journal if selected (TBA).
Early-bird registration for the GCHHE will begin in July of 2023. Special discounts are available for group/class registrations, please email HHAAEConference@gmail.com for more details.
Thank you again for your participation in the Global Conference on Hip Hop Education. If you have any questions, or would like to be a vendor or sponsor for this event… or would like to showcase your organization/non-profit or program, please email us at: HHAAEConference@gmail.com.
We gladly welcome all donations, please access our website HHAAE.org to donate. Donations along with conference registration fees are tax deductible.
References
Alridge, P. D., Stewart, B. J. (2021). Introduction: Hip hop in history: Past, present, and future.
The Fifth Element is Knowledge, Cognella, San Diego: CA.
Katel, P. (2007). Debating hip-hop. CQ Researcher, 17, 529-552. http://library.cqpress.com/
Keyes, C. (1991). Rappin to the beat : rap music as street culture among African Americans / by
Cheryl Lynette Keyes. Indiana University.
Rose, T. (1994). Black Noise: Rap music and Black culture in contemporary America.
Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press.
