Hip hop must be great music: they keep playing the same song over and over again.

It's the black version of polka music.

> Wasn't that mostly gang related?

Now you know why there is a class on the subject.

In all seriousness, as someone else pointed out, this is a multi-billion dollar industry within the United States alone. Why not learn about one (small) sector of our economy and modern culture?

I do hope that part of this course will be to instruct the students on the volume level of the radio in their vehicle. They should be able to listen to this but I DO NOT want to listen to their loud music in my vehicle.

Scholarship and ?ART? of hip hop. History of hip hop? Wasn't that mostly gang related? Gee, why don't we just publicly fund voter fraud.

Yes, OUR taxes lower the cost of your tuition, numberjuanstunna. The UW system is a PUBLIC university meaning it is subsidized primarily by the taxpayers of Wisconsin and also with some Federal funds.

PRIVATE institutions like Carthage or Ripon or Notre Dame of the Ivy League schools do not receive direct subsidy from the state or Federal governments.

For as much money as it seems, you are receiving a BARGAIN for the opportunity to learn at one of the best universities in the world. Do not squander your time there.

Be that as it may, there may be some hip hop songs with really abysmally stupid lyrics, but you can say that about any genre of music. Hip hop and all its related artistic forms -- rapping, DJing, breaking/sampling, and now mashups -- are an American invention that has become the dominant form of popular music around the globe, and its influence has seeped into several other forms of music. Many rappers are considered the equal of major poets, including Eminem and Tupac Shakur. Others are best known for musical invention, such as Jay-Z and Kanye West. It already has a rich history spanning back more than thirty years -- longer than most musical careers -- and its roots are firmly within other important musical trends such as scat singing and the talking blues. Hip hop and disco are siblings -- there wouldn't have been one without the other.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juosXtw36...

YOUR TAX DOLLARS???? I pay over $3500 per semester. I think I have the right to take whichever class I want, and so do you. Perhaps you want to try Batminton Basics. Ha! Ha! that will be worthwhile.

How long before the simpletons arrive with accusations of "racism" for those who criticize this program?

I'm not into hip hop myself, but the roots of all types of music have amazing historical backgrounds that are worth being studied. How did I know that some closed-minded resident would immediately pounce on the opportunity to criticize the program? Hip hop is an entire culture that's relatively prevalent in U.S. today; its roots sprang in NY during the 70's and has since influenced music around the globe. I bet people would be more accepting if they would have titled it just as a new art program, rather than hip hop... even though that's what hip hop is, an art form.

Either way.. hip hop is a multi billion dollar industry.

Bout time somebody tries to figure that chit out. But yeah, what a joke.

The "emerging academic field of hip hop"? Is this a joke? My taxes are going to pay for the academic study of hip hop? What BS!