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Ahmad Hill
Professor Lynn Raymond
University Writing 1104
21 July 2016
Progression of Hip-Hop
For the semester long multimodal project, my partner and I will be discussing the
progression of hip-hop beginning with the 1970s. In this project we plan to not only expand the
audiences knowledge on hip-hop, but to also increase our knowledge. The challenges I face
during this project is researching the topic that I have had very little interest with before coming
to UTOP, and also the fact hip-hop is such a broad topic. Throughout our slides, we will provide
small segments of information that we will further elaborate on, to allow us to create a stronger
presence with the audience and to not allow ourselves to read directly from our digital
production. To support our statements we plan to use credible sources and include short but
informative video clips. With all of these varying ways that we will present the progression of
hip-hop within our semester long multimodal project, we will enable ourselves to produce a
product that will be engaging for our peers to witness.
During class discussions with my peers, one of the immediate things I noticed was the
intense connection they had with hip-hop and how the music has positively influenced their way
of thinking. These discussions allowed me to experience a different perspective than what my
hometown was like. My peers opened my eyes to the racial discrimination that is happening
throughout this nation, along the uprising media coverage of police brutality. Also, how the
messages of hip-hop can have a significant influence on peoples perspectives. With some ideas
of hip-hop generally focused around equality opportunity, it has inspired me to become more

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knowledgeable about the hip-hop culture. Most outsiders of hip-hop stereotype the culture and
label the musical effect as ghetto, immoral, and targets the uneducated in the American society.
What is opposing and starting to become the normality since the introduction of hip-hop in the
1970s is the rising amount of minorities, especially African-American, who support the music
that are also political influencers, attending and graduating from college, and breaking the racial
barriers. I believe throughout the research for this multimodal project, we should not only focus
on the influences of hip-hop, but also relate to how the hip-hop messages have shaped the society
that supports it. The significance of gender and racial discriminating messages will also
thoroughly be exploited in our research. In conclusion, there have been several major influences
in my decision to research the topic of hip-hop, but I also believe that the audience can learn just
as much or even more than what I can about our society and the progression of hip-hop.