Hip Hop’s Musical Horizon of Hope in Dark Times

Authors

  • Mirko M. Hall Languages, Cultures, and Literatures Converse University Spartanburg, SC / USA Member of IASPM–US since 12/2020

Keywords:

Black Prophetic Fire, Hip Hop, Hope

Abstract

Prompted by the shocking death of George Floyd (who once freestyled with Houston’s legendary Screwed Up Click), this short reflection explores how hip hop’s revolutionary soundscapes and consciousness might serve as a utopian beacon in our dark times. It argues that this artistic movement not only creates new musical and political spaces for cultural creativity, critique, and resistance, but also continues to serve—through its Black prophetic fire—as a transformative horizon of hope that promotes both unrelenting compassion and resistance.

Author Biography

Mirko M. Hall, Languages, Cultures, and Literatures Converse University Spartanburg, SC / USA Member of IASPM–US since 12/2020

Mirko M. Hall is Professor of German Studies and Chair of Languages, Cultures, and Literatures at Converse University. Trained as an intellectual historian at the University of Minnesota, he is the author of _Musical Revolutions in German Culture: Musicking against the Grain, 1800–1980_ (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014) and co-editor of _Beyond No Future: Cultures of German Punk_ (Bloomsbury, 2016).

References

Bibliography

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Discography

Blondie, 1981. “Rapture”, Chrysalis Records, USA.

Brown, James. 1968. “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud”, King Records, USA.

N.W.A. 1988. Straight Outta Compton, Priority Records, USA.

Videography

Downtown 81. 2000. Dir. Edo Bertoglio, New Beat Films.

Downloads

Published

15-10-2021