«Hip hop culture»: a review of its potential as an educational tool

Abstract

This paper reviews the meaning of «hip hop culture» as a contemporary musical phenomenon, and how rap is a feature of the social and educational activities aimed at youth. The purpose of it is to show the evolution of hip hop, its agents, its practices, and its relationship with the world of the music industry and cultural action.It provides useful information on the contents of the Spanish rap lyrics that have been analyzed to check the messages transmitted, the ideas and references to the precepts legitimized in «hip hop culture». This is an approach to the idea that hip hop is a means of expression of social concerns and values that identify the hip hop culture. So, this study aims to provide a better knowledge of some educational experiences that have used hip hop as a tool to promote change in neighbourhoods, social groups or youth groups.

Keywords

• cultura hip hop
• rap español
• actividades educativas
• jóvenes
• construcción comunitaria
• estrategias pedagógicas