Back in the Day:

A History of American Hip-Hop Popular Performance

DRAM 3323 002
CB 1.112 T/H. 12:30 am-1: 45pm

Instructor: Dr. Venus Opal Reese

Office: JO4. 634
Phone Number: 972.883.2013
Office Hours: T/H 11-12pm or by appointment
Email: opal@utdallas.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Back in the Day traces the historical and contextual roots of
popular Hip-Hop performance from African oral tradition, through Antebellum Slavery, to
the commodification of self in present-day Popular Hip-Hop culture—as well as the
globalization of Hip-Hop performance as “American.” The use of coded-language in
slave songs, the performance of slavery in the Antebellum South as represented in
popular early 20th century media, and its subsequent re-emergence in each decade of
the 20th century as the social geographical space Americans of African descent can
occupy in popular culture, demonstrates the present of past in our contemporary
society.

Back in the Day gives a history of popular rap music and performance from the 60s
though 2004 and demonstrates how eminem is the new Elvis who was the new Al
Jolson; how Lauryn Hill is the new Lorraine Hansberry who was the new Hattie
McDaniel; how P. Diddy is the new Curtis Blow who was the new Paul Robinson. Each
of these popular performance performers occupied a socially geographic role during
various decades in the 20th century—roles that originated during the formation of
America in the womb of Antebellum Slavery. Hip-Hop—the commodifying and selling of
the black body, its products and the appropriation of its culture— is the essence of
American Character.

REQUIRED TEXTS:
Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, & Bucks by Donald Bogle.
Raising Cain: Blackface Performance from Jim Crow to Hip Hop by W.T. Lhamon
Hip-Hop America by George Nelson.
Black Noise: Rap Music and Black Culture in Contemporary America by Tricia Rose.
Droppin’ Science: Critical Essays on Rap Music and Hip-Hop Culture edited by William
Eric Perkins.
Bomb the Suburbs by William Upski Wimsatt.
Class handouts

GRADING WILL BE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING:

Attendance, Punctuality, and Participation: (20%) The student’s final grade will be
lowered by 1/3 letter grade for each unexcused absence. To receive an excused
absence, a doctor’s note is required immediately upon the student’s return to class. If
you are late twice, that equals one unexcused absences and shall be reflected in your
final grade. Students are graded on participation in class discussions, preparation, and
in-class activities.

Briefs: (15%) One-page summations of assigned readings are due each week.

Abstract: (10%) 250 abstract for final presentation. (submit via email)

Oral Presentation: (10%) 10-minute oral pre-final presentation

Project Summary: (15%) 4-5 page summation of project that includes a current
annotated bibliography, or for performing artists, a list of major performances. The
handout and oral presentation must present a clear outline of key points you will cover
for the final project as well as your approach. (Due at the time of your oral per-final
presentation)

Final Presentation: (30%) Final presentation/performative paper, between 0-15 pages

that includes some use of technology, art and/or live performance in presentation.
Finals can range from music videos, to interactive web pages, to spoken word
chapbooks, to conference papers. Final should be between 4-7 minutes. You choose
the format that best supports you vision, your voice, your genius. The instructor will
measure the student’s final in terms of originality, innovation, clarity of ideas, and the
excellence of the final presentation of the final project.

Disabilities Statement: If you would like to request academic accommodations due to

a disability, please contact Disability Services, which is located in room 1.610 in the
Student Union. Office hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM, Tuesday
and Wednesday, 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM, and Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. The Disability
Services email is: http://www.utdallas.edu/stidemt/slife/jcsvc.html.

Scholastic Dishonesty: Scholastic dishonesty is subject to severe penalty up to and

including expulsion. As you are working on your papers, please be conscientious about
carefully recording your citations and maintaining a solid separation between your voice
and that of source materials. Please read the following webpage so that you do not
accidentally cheat in any form:
http://www.utdallas.edu.student/slife/scholastic.html.

Incomplete Grade: A grade of Incomplete may be given, at the discretion of the

instructor of record for a course, when a student has completed at least 70% of the
required course material but cannot complete all requirements by the end of the
semester. An incomplete course grade (grade of X) must be completed within the time
period specified by the instructor, not to exceed eight weeks from the first day of the
subsequent long semester. Please see the following web address for more detailed
information:
http://www.utdallas.edu/student/catalog/undergrad03/progress.html#Grading%20Scale.
ONE FINAL NOTE: It is an honor to know you and to learn with you. Thank you for
being in this course, learning together, expanding what’s possible through your genius
and generosity of spirit. It’s going to be an extraordinary semester.
Lecture Schedule:
Reading assignments (RA) are to be completed by class meeting on assigned date.
The following is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.

Week #1:Introduction
08/18 Course Introduction

Week #2:African Griots and North American Slavery

08/23 Griot what?
08/25 Antebellum Plantation Slavery/Roles and Codified Language

Week #3: Minstrelsy/Jim-Crow/Hip-Hop

08/30 RA: Raising Cain
09/01 RA: Raising Cain 1st brief due

Week #4: Minstrelsy/Jim-Crow/Hip-Hop

09/06 RA: Raising Cain
09/08 RA: Raising Cain 2nd brief due

Week #5: Stereotypes from the Plantation Made Popular on the Big Screen
09/13 RA: Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, & Bucks
09/15 RA: Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, & Bucks 3rd brief due

Week #6 Stereotypes from the Plantation Made Popular on the Big Screen
09/20 RA: Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, & Bucks
09/22 RA: Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, & Bucks 4th brief due

Week #7 From Stereotype to Cultural Icon: Hip-Hop as American Culture

09/27 RA: Hip-Hop America
09/29 RA: Hip-Hop America 5th brief due

Week #8 From Stereotype to Cultural Icon: Hip-Hop as an American Culture

10/04 RA: Hip-Hop America
10/06 RA: Hip-Hop America 6th brief due
EMAIL ME YOUR ABSTRACTS OVER THE WEEKEND

Week #9 The History of Popular Hip-Hop as Culture

10/11 RA: Black Noise
10/13 RA: Black Noise 7th brief due

Week #10 The History of Popular Hip-Hop as Culture

10/18 RA: Black Noise
10/20 RA: Black Noise 8th brief due

Week #11 Wiggas & Jiggas

10/25 RA: Bomb the Suburbs
10/27 RA: Bomb the Suburbs 9th brief due
Week # 12 WIGGAS & JIGGAS
11/01 RA: Bomb the Suburbs
11/03 RA: Bomb the Suburbs 10th brief

Week # 13 A Guide Through Hip-Hop’s Colored Contradictions

11/08 RA: Droppin’ Science
11/10 RA: Droppin’ Science 11th brief (Veterans’ Day)

Week # 14 A Guide Through Hip-Hop’s Colored Contradictions & Global Effect

11/15 RA: Droppin’ Science
11/17 RA: Droppin’ Science 12th brief

Week # 15 Final Projects Preparation

11/22 Oral Presentation/project summary due
11/25 THANKSGIVING DAY (NO CLASS)

Week # 16
11/29 Oral Presentation/project summary due

WEEK # 17 FINAL
12/01 Final Presentations