Style Wars in Buffalo, NY

**click on image to enlarge**

This photograph is from Hip Hop & Social Issues UB student Alana Barricks and her graffiti art in University Heights of Buffalo in collaboration with the University Heights Tool Library.  Alana informed us that the university is working on an urban renewal project through street art which includes the work of several other community artist as well.  Inspired by the film Style Wars that she saw in the Hip Hop & Social Issues course, Alana's piece can be seen just around the corner from 5 West Northrup.  Much thanks to Alana for reaching out and sharing her work! 

Hip Hop & Social Issues (AAS 117)

Key Questions for Unit 1
In order to understand Hip Hop, we must first understand...?

How are these "contexts" related?  And how do they influence one another?

What does this venn diagram teach us about Hip Hop?

Thinking about how each context is inter-related, independent,

and part of a much more complex American, African American

and global history.

Hip Hop & Social Issues (AAS 117)

Fall 2013 semester has been underway for the HHA Hip Hop & Social Issues (AAS 117) course instructed by Justin De Senso at the University of Buffalo SUNY.  Above is a Venn Diagram from Unit 1 instruction.  More information on the course will be updated soon!  Shout out to the students of Fall 2013 and the youth from YALT, Chris, Zach, & Tonio!  

New mission -- no less than a post a week to keep folks updated with the developments, including this semester's trip to the UK to take part in a panel on Ice-T, the upcoming class trip to the Cornell University Hip Hop Collection in Ithaca, New York, and tons of footage over the past two semesters from students, film makers, artist, and Hip Hoppers that have been involved with the course.

Stay tuned!

Akbar Interview Planet X

Akbar Interview 'Planet X'

Akbar Interview Pt. 1: click here
Akbar Interview Pt. 2: click here
Akbar Interview Pt. 3: click here
Akbar Interview Pt. 4: click here
Akbar Interview Pt. 5: click here

Hip Hop Alumni.com 2008-2013 Banner

'HHA Banner 2008-2013'

This post is to let you all know of an update on our homepage design.  For 2013, we developed a new banner design that includes photographs of contributors to Hip Hop Alumni (HHA) over the years.  Time has kept us from really making the site grow, but piece by piece we look forward to uploading and revising what we have and announcing what our current activities and future plans are moving forward.  In 2008, our goal with the banner was to simply put people on to the individuals who have influenced our ideas and how we started.  The concept of Hip Hop Alumni was born in a classroom at New Mexico State University inside of the Clara Belle Williams Hall.  Clara Belle Williams was NMSU's first black graduate in 1937 while she worked as a school teacher at Booker T. Washington school in Las Cruces, New Mexico.  So if you notice, Clara Belle Williams' presence on our banner over the years is permanent and represents the foundation of what Justin De Senso and I (Lecroy Rhyanes) would later develop after being introduced to each other in a jazz lyric course (in the Clara Belle Williams building).  The other individuals that have been featured on the banner are people we are inspired by such as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X), Bruce Lee, and educators, artists, and photographers of Hip Hop's past & present.  In our 2013 banner design we wanted to continue to reference some of our influences but also included photographs of some individuals that contributed their time, talents, and ideas to HHA.  One of the photographs was taken during our attendance of one of Dr. Manning Marable's final presentations before he passed away.  There is only so much that could be fit onto a header for the website, so we extend much love and respect to everybody - friends and collaborators that have worked with us and shared ideas.  You'll also notice that above our banner, we've included a discography or some of our favorite audios and we will also be adding a banner of key texts to link to our Hip Hop Stacks initiative.  On the website homepage www.hiphopalumni.com you'll also find links to our HHA Facebook, HHA Classroom Forum (for students of the University at Buffalo-SUNY course currently being instructed by Justin De Senso) - also includes a general forum for the public, and a link to our HHA Blogsite (Wire).  In addition, we have an HHA YouTube.  The HHbeAtz Playlist is rotating instrumental tracks from our homepage.  Til' the next few updates, we hope the first month of your new year has been good!       

Hip Hop & Social Issues AAS 117

'Class in Session'

Instructor's Notes

Hip Hop & Social Issues AAS 117
January 14 to May 9, 2013

University at Buffalo, SUNY
Instructor: Justin De Senso

For more information, please contact Justin De Senso at: jdesenso@gmail.com

Hip Hop Alumni has also added a Classroom Forum for online discussion amongst University at Buffalo students and other educators willing to collaborate and share resources, discussion, etc.