English 51 - Summer Sessions II, 2021

Hot Bars, Supreme Lyrics, & Rhymes for Days: Hip Hop as Poetry

Class Information

Instructor: Mlekoday, Michael
CRN: 71421
GE Areas: American Cultures, Governance, and History Domestic Diversity

Description

In this class, we will study the poetics of rap. We are going to pay close attention to the styles, strategies, techniques, tropes, and linguistic tools that MCs use to craft verses and tell stories. We will think with these rappers, learning from their experiences, philosophies, and worldviews, as we do in most literature classes. Our studies will span different eras and styles in the history of hip-hop, from Rakim to Kendrick, from Melle Mel to Mos Def, as we sharpen our analytical skills and deepen our understanding of contemporary American poetry through its most popular movement.