Conceptualizing a critical discourse around hip‐hop culture and Black male youth in educational scholarship and research

Abstract

While much of mainstream qualitative research has focused on conventional methodology, in terms of axis of inquiry, epistemology, and approaches to ground the theory of its questions to construct knowledge, educational researchers have yet to conceptually develop an alternative praxis in our work which takes into account hip‐hop culture. More specifically, research which investigates the social reality of youth, particularly Black males. The authors give an historical overview of hip‐hop culture, and examine the social, political and economic context from which the art form emerged. Second, they articulate why it is important to discuss hip‐hop culture as the genre relates to Black male youth. Third, they explore the moral and ethical dilemmas in the wider public about hip‐hop culture. Fourth, the authors give a critical discussion on the transformative and emancipatory possibilities in scholarship and research praxis regarding Black male youth and hip‐hop culture in the contemporary moment.

Keywords:

• hip‐hop
• urban education
• youth subculture