Hip-Hop and Dismantling the School-to-Prison Pipeline

A simply amazing collection of essays evincing how hip hop is more than a music movement for the oppressed; it is prison-industrial-complex activism, medicine for the disposed, invisible and disenfranchised, education for those given no tools of critical reflection, aesthetics and cultural practices for organizers, voice and psychosocial justice for the woke, pedagogy and righteous indignation for the teacher, street knowledge, consciousness and radical theory for the academic, and a lifeline for change connecting youth, generations, schools, and communities. -Michael J. Coyle, Professor, Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice, California State University, Chico This book is a significant contribution to the literature on Hip Hop with respect to its pedagogical value in promoting social justice, political activism, and most importantly, revolutionary consciousness. -Mark Seis, Professor Emeritus Sociology, Fort Lewis College It is hard to sum up this book in a few words. A quintessential book, that needs to be read to understand Youth of Color and underrepresented youth. This book builds the relation between hip hop culture and youth. To say it's a must read, is an understatement! -Alisha Page, National Coordinator, Save the Kids This is an outstanding book and one of the most important books within the field of Hip Hop studies. To not read this book and be a scholar within the field of hip hop, you are really missing out. -Poetry Behind the Walls A profound elucidation of the empowering and revolutionary culture and music created in resistance to the capitalist system its oppressive institutions. This important book should be read by everyone interested in social justice. -David Nibert, Wittenberg University This book centers the radical and political heart of hip hop bringing together a range of voices to explore the intersection of Hip Hop, resistance, activism, and struggle. If racial, economic, and social justice is going to be achieved works like this are essential. -Sean Parson, North Arizona University A groundbreaking edited volume discussing hip hop theory and Hip Hop based curriculum as transformative models. An important discussion of Hip Hop music and culture promoting youth centered intergenerational dialogue and pedagogical and social change. A must read for teachers, policy makers, and community practitioners. -Richard Loder, Professor of Sociology and Native American and Indigenous Studies, Syracuse University I am honored to be part of this book and I believe it is requisite reading for anyone pursuing integrated pedagogy that includes musical art forms. I will be assigning this as seminal texts for my courses in educational leadership as it pertains to culture and climate. -Arash Daneshzadeh, Lecturer of Education, University of San Francisco This timely and thought-provoking book adopts an intersectional approach for understanding hip hop as a form of public pedagogy capable of challenging systems of domination. It reflects and contributes to many of today's social movements (BLM, mass incarceration, education reform, feminism, queer liberation) and seeks nothing less than radical, transformative social change. Nothing but applause and claps! -Jason Del Gandio, co-editor of Spontaneous Combustion: The Eros Effect and Global Revolution Hip-Hop and Dismantling the School-to-Prison Pipeline is an intersectional radical intervention in promoting youth justice and social justice education. This book is a must read to truly understand how the system is oppressing and locking up youth, especially Youth of Color. To end the school to prison, we must listen to youth and those affected by it, Hip Hop is their megaphone. -Micere Githae Mugo, Emeritus Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence, Syracuse University There are too many people saying we should lock youth up and that we need more security and cops in schools. This book says the complete opposite; we need more liberation, freedom, love, counselors, teachers, therapists, social justice courses, and psychologists in school. -Transformative Justice Journal This is a must read book, which connects the culture that is most affected by the school to prison pipeline to scholars who are experts on the issue. Finally, we are connecting the dots and not speaking at, but speaking with. -Peace Studies Journal