2011 Hip-hop Conference
Exploring Meta-narratives, Violence, and Social Responsibility Throughout Hip-hop Culture
Author Michael Eric Dyson, beat box originator Doug E. Fresh and socially and politically charged artists Dead Prez will headline the 6th annual hip-hop conference April 19-22 at California University of Pennsylvania.
This year’s conference will explore “Meta-narratives, Violence and Social Responsibility” embedded in hip-hop culture.
The keynote panel, appearing at 3 p.m. April 22 in the Performance Center, includes:
- Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, an American Book Award winner, TV commentator and Georgetown University professor who has been called “the ideal public intellectual of our time” and “a street fighter in a suit and tie.” In addition to books on Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, this dynamic speaker is the author seven books, including Holler If You Hear Me: Searching for Tupac Shakur and Know What I Mean? Reflections on Hip-hop.
- Doug E. Fresh, the originator of the human beat box — vocally simulating the sound of drums and other musical instruments. A hip-hop performer, actor and host of “It's Showtime” at the famed Apollo Theater in New York, he also is an activist who has fought against racism, drugs, illiteracy, police brutality and homelessness in communities around the world.
Hip-hop artists Dead Prez will be featured at a “Tribute to the 5 Elements of Hip-hop” from 4-7 p.m. April 21 at Jozarts Studio on Second Street, just blocks from the Cal U campus. University art students and DJ Source & the Sonik Professor also will perform.
Additional conference sessions explore the language of hip-hop, West African connections to hip-hop culture, and the film Good Hair, which will be shown at 11 a.m. April 19 in Room 103, Duda Hall.
All events are free and open to the public. Visitor parking is available in the Vulcan Garage, off Third Street near the campus entrance.
Schedule of Events
Tuesday, April 19
Film Good Hair
11 a.m.
Room 103, Duda
Hall
Wednesday, April 20
The Language of Hip-hop and the Influence of
the Five Percent Nation
6 p.m.
Room 110, Eberly Science
and Technology Center
Thursday, April 21
Brian Turman
presents Western Afrikan Connections in
Hip-hop
11 a.m.
Room 103, Duda
Hall
Roundtable on Good Hair, with moderator Aquene
Zechneder
2 p.m.
Room 303, Duda Hall
Discussants:
- Dr. Caryl Sheffield, chairperson in the Department of Early, Middle and Special Education
- Dr. Tonya Tinsley, assistant professor and program coordinator for the Graduate Certificate in Sports Counseling
- Jennifer Ramsey, Instructor/Counselor for the Upward Bound Program.
- Cal U students
Tribute to the 5 Elements of Hip-hop, featuring Dead Prez
4-7 p.m.
Jozarts Studio, 333
Second St., California Borough
Also featuring Cal U art students, DJ Source & The Sonik Professor
Friday, April 22
Credit, Class, Crime, Cosby
& The Hip-hop Generation
1 p.m.
Multipurpose room,
Carter Hall
Preliminary panel:
- Dr. Sean Goliday, adjunct professor of sociology at Trinity Washington University
- Dr. Charles Adams, assistant professor of sociology and criminal justice at Bowie State University
- Dr. Frank Vaught, practitioner and owner of Health on Earth Wellness Centers
- Brian Willis, author of Help! I'm Drowning in Debt, founder and CEO of Wealth Builders Enterprises, Inc.
Keynote panel,
featuring Dr. Michael Eric
Dyson and Doug E. Fresh
3 p.m.
Performance Center, Natali Student Center
“Teach Me How to Dougie” contest Immediately following the
panel
Dr. Michael Eric Dyson
Links
Official website of Dr. Michael Eric Dyson
Doug E. Fresh discusses the origin of beat box.
