Higher education in the realm of Hip-Hop has become a dream realized over the past decade. Historians, journalists and scholars alike have all chipped in to archive the culture which has transformed the way many Americans live their lives. Grammy Award-nominated producer, Patrick “9th Wonder” Douthit’s contributions to said culture have been significant in more ways than one. His hand in scoring tracks for Jay Z, Destiny’s Child and Wale not withstanding, he’s been a music professor preaching the gospel of Hip-Hop for more than half a decade. His residencies include North Carolina Central University, Duke and Harvard University, where on the latter, he conducted a three-year study while working on a research project. Much to the Hip-Hop community’s delight, he’s back in front of the chalkboard this upcoming spring at Duke alongside Dr. Mark Anthony Neal (whom he’s taught with before). The course, “The History of Hip-Hop,” looks to give an in-depth experience on the past, present and possible future of the genre and its impact as a whole. If you’re enrolled at Duke in spring of 2014, it would behoove you to take advantage of the opportunity. For everyone else, the gallery features the books that will be used to conduct the studies. You never thought that Hip-Hop would take it this far? Well, think again. — Photo: NewBlackMan, Amazon
