The way in which Kendrick Lamar’s music displays the ability, plight, and politics of Black America must be studied. And fairly quickly, Temple College college students will do exactly that.
The Philadelphia establishment introduced final week its plan to launch a brand new course within the Fall 2025 semester titled “Kendrick Lamar and the Morale of M.A.A.D. Metropolis.” The category, taught by Timothy Welbeck of Temple’s Africology and African American Research division, will discover the Compton rapper’s life, catalog, and cultural influence.
Faculty campuses have lengthy embraced hip-hop scholarship, with Tupac Shakur, OutKast, Lil’ Kim, and Jay-Z all inspiring coursework. Nas even has a fellowship named after him at Harvard. Nonetheless, we predict increased ed academies are sleeping on loads of artists who supply meals for thought throughout tutorial disciplines.
If we have been to play provost of our personal college, school rooms could be full of college students doing the information on modern and basic hip-hop acts. We dreamed up 10 courses we’d supply. Class is now in session!
Artist | Ol’ Soiled Bastard
Course | No Disgrace (on a N***a): The Unorthodox Genius of Ol’ Soiled Bastard
Curriculum | He rhymes off-kilter and sings off-key. His lyrics shift between hilarious absurdity and outright gibberish. His identify is a self-roast. ODB is beloved for breaking rattling close to each one in every of hip-hop’s guidelines, whereas adhering to crucial: being unapologetically genuine. This course analyzes the late, nice Wu-Tang Clan MC’s wild improvements in storytelling, persona, and efficiency, specializing in his ultra-raw solo debut, Return to the 36 Chambers: The Soiled Model.
Topic | English
Ultimate Examination | When Ol’ Soiled Bastard stated “shimmy shimmy ya, shimmy yam, shimmy yay,” you felt it. However what does it imply? Clarify in a 12-page thesis, citing Dust McGirt’s work, interviews, and readings from language specialists — not Genius — to assist your principle.—John Kennedy
Artist | GloRilla
Course | In Gloria’s Title: The Gospel of GloRilla
Curriculum | Pulling from the works of GloRilla herself, this course examines the transformative energy of grace, prayer, and staying f**ok n***a free. Right here, college students will congregate for every day sermons from Ehhthang Ehhthang and Wonderful for a 14-week class dissecting the religious indicators of when and the place to embrace Christ. Or the crash out.
Topic | Ministry
Ultimate Examination | A bunch venture the place you — alongside along with your ratchet-ass associates — rescue a baddie-in-distress from a poisonous romance, redeeming her by means of the religious steerage of Gloria “GloRilla” Woods.— Peter A. Berry
Artist | Tyler, the Creator
Course | Whom Artwork Dat Boy: A Collision Course on the Works of Tyler, the Creator and William, the Shakespeare
Curriculum | One made Hamlet. The opposite made “The Brown Stains of Darkeese Latifah Half 6-12 (Remix).” Nonetheless, their canons have extra in frequent than casuals may count on. Tyler, the Creator and William Shakespeare are grasp wordsmiths who enjoy duality, unrequited love, alter egos, and heartbreak. From Igor to Iago, this course compares the various literary parts that bind these artists regardless of the 400 years (and one eaten cockroach) between them.
Topic | Literary Arts
Ultimate Examination | Carry out a dramatic studying of a Tyler, the Creator track as if it have been a Shakespearean tragedy. Should embrace dramatic gestures, stage instructions, and one reference that might confuse each your therapist and your trainer’s assistant.—John Kennedy
Artist | Pusha-T
Course | If You Know You Know: Pusha-T and the Artwork of Personal Investigation
Curriculum | Since revealing the existence of Drake’s firstborn little one, Pusha-T has emphatically established himself as maybe rap’s finest non-public investigator. Utilizing Push as a information, this course explores Pusha’s songs and interviews to disclose the perfect strategies of intelligence gathering and destabilizing the lives of anybody you occur to disagree with.
Topic | Prison Justice
Ultimate Examination | Utilizing analysis you’ve gathered over the semester, begin a petty feud with a random classmate and make a viral diss monitor discussing their deepest, darkest secrets and techniques. Additional credit score in the event that they subtweet you.—Peter A. Berry
Artist | Megan Thee Stallion
Course | Exploring W.A.P. as a Weapon In opposition to Patriarchy
Curriculum | Since her breakout within the late 2010s, Megan Thee Stallion has led a brand new wave of rap feminism and sex-positive liberation by flaunting, proudly owning, and reclaiming her bodily autonomy. This course examines how the unique Scorching Lady wields her sexual prowess as a superpower. It analyzes pleasure as a political act. It unpacks lyrics like “two fingers give me peace.” And it explains why each twerk is a type of resistance. Periodt.
Topic | Gender & Sexuality Research
Ultimate Examination | Roses Are Purple: Write a three-verse rap track that personifies a intercourse toy of your selecting. (Batteries not included.)—John Kennedy
Artist | Jay Electronica
Course | Exhibit C: On Intentional, Restful Absence, By way of the Lens of Jay Electronica
Curriculum | In a quasi-mainstream profession that’s stretched almost 20 years, Jay Electronica is arguably simply as well-known for his absence as his presence, having dropped solely two tasks in that point. But he’s revered, turning into an André 3000-esque cult determine whereas doing possibly 5% of the work. For this course, you’ll be taught the advantage of mystique and, extra straight, merely staying out of the way in which till it’s time to prophesize or break up a contented house. Truly attending the twice-a-semester class is elective. Imprecise religious poetry is not.
Topic | Philosophy
Ultimate Examination | Create 5 completely different rap sequences to rhyme with “Jay Electronica” and mislead classmates, associates, and household a few “launch date” so that you can develop into a greater particular person.—Peter A. Berry
Artist | Child Cudi
Course | Hmmm: The Musical Idea of Child Cudi’s Hums
Curriculum | Scott Mescudi has solidified his spot on emo hip-hop’s Mount Rushmore — not only for what he says, however for what he doesn’t. This course explores the emotional structure of the Man on the Moon’s wordless melodies, finding out how he channels pleasure, despair, loneliness, and curiosity by means of his biggest instrument: his hums. Equal elements vibes and vibrations, the course unpacks how Cudi’s chords supply ardour, ache, and demon slayin’.
Topic | Music Idea
Ultimate Examination | A solo efficiency of “By Design.” No lyrics. Simply hums.—John Kennedy
Artist | Kevin Gates
Course | 2 Telephones, 1 Million Tall Tales: Kevin Gates and the Artwork of Self-Mythology
Curriculum | In a land of outsized egos and crude self-aggrandizement, Kevin Gates has confirmed the flexibility to make even the tallest tales appear brief; the weirdest tales appear mundane. On this course, college students comb by means of archived Gates interviews to dissect his most, ahem, extraordinary anecdotes and uncover how you can also contort actuality to make your self the eccentric Dos Equis mascot of any feast or VladTV interview.
Topic | Introduction to Folklore
Ultimate Examination | Persuade a household good friend that you simply abstained from urinating for an entire 12 months in an effort to cleanse your soul and save your descendants. —Peter A. Berry
Artist | Larry June
Course | Juice Bars: Analyzing How Larry June’s Natural Way of life Redefined “Keepin’ It Actual” in Rap
Curriculum | Larry June’s gems don’t at all times bling. Extra usually, he drops jewels encouraging listeners to dwell their finest lives by embracing wellness, making accountable monetary choices, and watering vegetation (actually and metaphorically). This course delves into how the San Francisco rapper’s dedication to smoothies and self-discipline reframes what it means to be genuine in hip-hop. Subjects embrace luxurious minimalism, dairy-free flexing, and whether or not tablet poppers must be targeted on magnesium as a substitute. Yee-hee!
Topic | Life Teaching
Ultimate Examination | Utilizing Larry June’s music as supply materials, create an annotated 10-point “natural ideas” information for all times, targeted on funds, vitamin, and mindfulness. Bonus factors if it rhymes — or references oat milk.—John Kennedy
Artist | 2 Chainz
Course | (I’m) Totally different However T.R.U.: 2 Chainz’s Masterful Transformation
Curriculum | Along with his rebranding from Tity Boi to 2 Chainz, Mr. Chainz went from proficient rap recreation sparkplug to one of many business’s most electrifying and technically completed wordsmiths. By way of cautious lyrical evaluation and searches by means of Chainz’s various wardrobe and mannerism switchups, college students will be taught the significance of name realignment and aesthetic messaging, and hopefully develop into extra acceptable to the world at massive.
Topic | Advertising and marketing
Ultimate Examination | Change into somebody completely completely different so individuals such as you extra. Should share DMs with class for proof.—Peter A. Berry
