A social identity framework of American hip-hop cultural performance

Abstract

The sociocognitive processes of marginalized-group social identity negotiation within a wider hegemonic sociocultural context can appear counterintuitive. Employing social identity theory to extend our understanding of the tension between racial and economic group-based identities, the mutations of three notable hip-hop referents serve as case studies that illuminate a framework of the intra- and intergroup relations facilitated by hip-hop's cultural performance within a racialized society.

Keywords:

• multiple social identities
• social stratification
• social mobility
• hip-hop
• African-American

Acknowledgements

The author wishes to thank Professors Marlene Fine and Sheldon George for their invaluable insight.