Being Hip-Hop

Abstract

In this article, I offer four principles relevant to hip-hop cultures (keep it real, flip the script, make some noise, and stay fresh) and explore how these principles might affect music classrooms. I argue that a music classroom that works to keep it real, flip the script, make some noise, and stay fresh might go beyond teaching hip-hop skills and songs to actually being hip-hop. Adopting these principles would ideally keep music classrooms relevant to students’ interests, focus on connections to both local and global contexts, take and transform music ideas, and create original music within an environment that honors music traditions for what they are and remains flexible and responsive to ruptures in flow. I include a snapshot of what a potential music classroom that is hip-hop might look like.