Rap Laureate: Lupe Fiasco | Remixing the Art of Social Change
Words Beats & Life (WBL) presented Lupe Fiasco as the 2023 Rap Laureate at the Remixing the Art of Social Change conference in the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library during the 2023 WBL Festival. The panel included the introduction of the new educational book that bridges the gap between hip-hop and academia, “Rap Laureate,” followed by a discussion on the importance of hip-hop culture and how it inspires and teaches people from different backgrounds through Fiasco's music and art.
The “Rap Laureate” is a new publication from Words Beats & Life that analyzes an artist's work, highlighting the significance of hip-hop culture and its potential to inspire and educate young people from diverse backgrounds. It bridges the gap between hip-hop culture and academics and helps teachers create curriculum that is culturally relevant, keeps students interested, and helps them learn.
Dr. Jason Nichols and Mikal Amin Lee co-wrote the first issue of Rap Laureate, which also features artwork by Ali Cool Guy. It delves into Lupe Fiasco's discography and career to show why he is one of the most important rappers of the past two decades. Fiasco's music frequently explores social issues and cultural identity, offering valuable insights and fostering cultural understanding. As a Grammy Award-winning rapper and producer, he demonstrates a commitment to connecting art and academia. Initially a 2020-21 CAST Visiting Artist at MIT's Center for Art, Science & Technology, Fiasco laid a foundation for fruitful collaborations. In the 2022-23 academic year, he returned to MIT as part of the MLK Visiting Professors and Scholars Program, building upon the alliances established in 2021.
This semester, Fiasco is teaching a course on rap, sharing his expertise and offering students a distinctive learning opportunity that celebrates the richness and diversity of perspectives in the field. Recognition from Words Beats & Life highlights the significance of integrating the voices and experiences of discredited and discounted groups into mainstream education.
The conference was part of the 2023 Words Beats & Life Festival (WBL Fest) in Washington, D.C., and Maryland. WBL Fest is an annual week long festival of free hip-hop culture events, concerts, and conferences.
