What I Am Thinking About Now: Matthew Martinez, "What’d You Say? Understanding Changing Vulgarity in Hip-Hop Lyrics as a Function of Commodification Processes"

CSREA Conference Room, Hillel 303

Matthew Martinez, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Spatial Structures in the Social Sciences

Using a unique dataset of over 1,600 rap songs spanning 16 years, this project investigates how Hip-Hop has changed over time based on the influence of major record label control as witnessed through changes in lyrical vulgarity. Findings are focused on both the changing structure of commodification avenues in the record industry and subcultural changes in Hip-Hop as experienced through lyrical content modifications.

“What I Am Thinking About Now” is an on-going informal workshop/seminar series to which faculty and graduate students are invited to present and discuss recently published work and work in progress.

Please RSVP: [email protected]Location of seminar may change if the number of RSVPs received exceeds the capacity of our conference room.