The "Legacy of Hip Hop" course will examine the origins of hip-hop culture, hip-hop visual aesthetics, the four elements of hip-hop, sample-based music production, and fugitivity. 

The class structure will consist of group discussions where we will analyze the history of hip-hop and its impact on culture and projects where we will recreate musical compositions with the latest recording software. In addition, we will examine readings such as "Can't Stop, Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation" by Jeff Chang and "Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop" by Vikki Tobak.

In this course, we will go crate diggin', aka vinyl record shopping, and create musical compositions. We will think critically about how impactful graffiti writing, breakdancing, DJing, and rapping have been for American culture and the world. We will also explore the rebelliousness of hip-hop, who profits from hip-hop, and the intersectionality between empowerment and exploitation within hip-hop culture. 

• Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation” by Jeff Chang
• Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop" by Vikki Tobak

Assignments will explore the history of Hip Hop visual culture and sound production. We will give presentations on specific milestones that led to the creation of Hip Hop. Also, we will make video essays exploring the global impact of Hip Hop. Lastly, we will conduct class discussions about readings and group projects. For example, we will go crate diggin', aka vinyl record shopping, and create musical compositions.

Johannes Barfield is an American sample-based visual artist who works in installation, video, photography, XR (extended reality), collage, and sound. His work explores childhood memories, joy, appropriation as a means for survival, the repatriation of artifacts, objecthood, extinction, and the music played at family cookouts.

Johannes resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He received an MFA in Photography and Film from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Virginia. Also, he has received multiple awards, fellowships, and residencies, including the Mint Museum Atrium Health “Best in Show” award, Toby Devan Lewis Fellowship award, Black Public Media Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts residency, Merriweather District AIR residency, Fine Arts Work Center Visual Artist Fellowship, Lighthouse Works Fellowship, ACRE residency, MASS MoCA residency, VCU “10 Under 10” award, and 2022 Shortlist for Creative Capital award.