The study of Hip Hop at Rice University began in Fall 2006 when Dr. Anthony B. Pinn offered a new course--RELI 157/311 Religion and Hip Hop Culture in America. In part through the Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning (formally the Houston Enriches Rice Education Project), Dr. Pinn's work in Hip Hop at Rice University includes various related projects—from creating an archive to panel discussions, lectures, and exhibits, to developing innovative courses, to partnerships with key members of the Hip Hop community, such as Bun B, K-Rino, KRS-ONE, Mia-X, and Kool Moe Dee among others.
All this work, both on and off the Rice campus, is meant to highlight and explore Hip Hop’s impact on local and global communities. The CERCL Hip Hop Archival Collection and Oral History Series held at Rice University's Fondren Library Woodson Research Center increase the spotlight on Hip Hop, preserve its importance for future generations, and underscore Hip Hop's role as a space where community and intellectual leadership is generated and cultivated.
2006 |
Dr. Pinn taught first RELI 157/311 Religion and Hip Hop Culture in America at Rice University | Course page |
2010 |
HERE Legacy Awards - Celebrating 25 Years of Hip Hop in Houston | The Legacy Award was given to James A. Prince of Rap-a-Lot Records as part of a larger program including a panel of central figures “cyphering” about the significance and contribution of hip-hop in Houston over the last two and a half decades. | Video | Rice News Article
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2011 |
Bernard “Bun B” Freeman joined Dr. Pinn to co-teach RELI 157/311 as CERCL Distinguished Visiting Lecturer. In line with CERCL's mission to bridge the gap between Rice and the Houston community, several special sessions of the course were offered for free at off campus venues | Video | Course Page
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2012 |
Awready! Houston Hip Hop Conference | A collaborative conference and launch of the Houston Hip Hop Archival Network (CERCL at Rice University and the University of Houston Library) | Videos | Participant Video | UH News Article |
2013 |
Swisha House: Leaders in Houston Hip Hop: Past & Present | Panel discussion & induction into CERCLs Hip Hop Archival Collection. Panelists: Michael “5000” Watts, G Dash, OG Ron C, Chamilllionaire, Lil Keke, Archie Lee & Moderator Mad Hatta | Rice News |
2014 |
Rice Rap Club | Rice undergraduate student and former Religion and Hip Hop Culture in America student formed the club with Dr. Pinn as faculty sponsor | Instagram |
2015 |
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2016 |
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2017 |
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2018 |
Dr. Pinn taught RELI 157/311 Religion and Hip Hop Class at Rice
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2019 |
Baker Collab Bun B Pinn discussion |
2022 |
Mike Frost Exhibit |
2023 |
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2024 |
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2025 |
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April 2011
Rice Campus was invited to a special session of the HERE Project Sponsored Religion and Hip Hop Class for a public discussion as Russell Simmons and Professor Bun B had a dialogue on Yoga and the Principles of Simmons book SUPER RICH: A Guide to Having It All.
January 2015
The panel discussion at the Menil Collection which featured Anthony Pinn, Bun B, Monica Miller, Talib Kweli, and Menil Director Josef Helfenstein explored the nature and significance of hip-hop's contribution to nonviolence and social justice.
January 2016
Award-winning artist David Banner, Houston legend Bernard “Bun B” Freeman, musical ambassador Toni Blackman, and author and Rice University professor Dr. Anthony Pinn discussed the intersection of music and civil rights; Lone Star College professor Dr. Aundrea Matthews moderated the dialogue. How has hip hop contributed to the conversations on racial justice, including the Black Lives Matter movement? Do artists have a responsibility to MLK’s legacy?
March 2016
A panel discussion as part of a 3-day city-wide celebration recognizing Houston based Bboy crew Havikoro’s 17th Anniversary in partnership with CERCL. The weekend included a City of Houston Proclamation acknowledging March 4th as “Havikoro Day”, a Bboy competition with over 100 contestants from across the country, and a concert. Havikoro was inducted into CERCL's Hip Hop Archival Collection housed at the Woodson Research Center Special Collections and University Archives in Rice’s Fondren Library.
October 2017
Panel discussion to discuss the work of SLFEMP and Mike Frost, a photographer and graphic designer who has defined the image and branding of rap and hip hop albums in Texas and beyond and to celebrate his participation in CERCL's Hip Hop Archival Collection. The event will featured a 1000 photo slide show documenting Houston's underground rap culture.
September 2018
Jon Ivan Gill, Visiting Lecturer in Africana Studies in Religion at Pomona Collegeand Lecturer in Philisophy at California State University provided a working definition of “underground hip-hop,” within the current scholarship on hip-hop studies and hip-hop and religion and introduced his concept of “Aesthetic Religion.”
November 2018
A RELI 157/311 - Religion and Hip Hop Culture Course Public Event. Genesis Blu, native Houstonian and self-proclaimed Raptivist, was named “The Blue Haired Matron” of hip hop by Texas Monthly. Genesis tabled her psychotherapy Ph.D for a career in music and advocacy. In addition to her music career, Genesis devotes time to facilitating change in her community.
