Rap, hip-hop’s most characteristic element, evolved from cultural practices combining in New York and spread across the United States in the latter half of the twentieth century. This thesis argues in favor of the use of rap as primary source material in future historical research. Authenticity has always surrounded hip-hop, making rap a window into artists’ perspectives. Storytelling traditions in rap’s roots allow for fiction’s use as a tool to discuss reality in lyrics. To demonstrate rap’s strengths as a primary source, the thesis examines Let’s Get Free, dead prez’s 2000 debut album. The song “They Schools” is dissected section-by-section to exemplify rap’s potential for lyrical depth to discuss complex topics. Finally, the album’s overarching themes of race, revolution, and identity reinforce that potential, displaying dead prez’s worldview and complicating our understanding of history.
","abstract_html":"<p>Rap, hip-hop’s most characteristic element, evolved from cultural practices combining in New York and spread across the United States in the latter half of the twentieth century. This thesis argues in favor of the use of rap as primary source material in future historical research. Authenticity has always surrounded hip-hop, making rap a window into artists’ perspectives. Storytelling traditions in rap’s roots allow for fiction’s use as a tool to discuss reality in lyrics. To demonstrate rap’s strengths as a primary source, the thesis examines Let’s Get Free, dead prez’s 2000 debut album. The song “They Schools” is dissected section-by-section to exemplify rap’s potential for lyrical depth to discuss complex topics. Finally, the album’s overarching themes of race, revolution, and identity reinforce that potential, displaying dead prez’s worldview and complicating our understanding of history.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Smith, Christopher"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Arts - History","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"History","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Court Carney","Randi Barnes-Cox","Hunter Hampton"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2024,"date_issued":"2024-12-14T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2024-12-14T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:30:45Z","subjects":["hip-hop","primary source","20th century","african american","dead prez","Cultural History"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/588","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Court Carney","Randi Barnes-Cox","Hunter Hampton"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Smith, Christopher"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2024-12-12T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["History"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Arts - History"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["hip-hop","primary source","20th century","african american","dead prez","Cultural History"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/588"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Rap, hip-hop’s most characteristic element, evolved from cultural practices combining in New York and spread across the United States in the latter half of the twentieth century. This thesis argues in favor of the use of rap as primary source material in future historical research. Authenticity has always surrounded hip-hop, making rap a window into artists’ perspectives. Storytelling traditions in rap’s roots allow for fiction’s use as a tool to discuss reality in lyrics. To demonstrate rap’s strengths as a primary source, the thesis examines Let’s Get Free, dead prez’s 2000 debut album. The song “They Schools” is dissected section-by-section to exemplify rap’s potential for lyrical depth to discuss complex topics. Finally, the album’s overarching themes of race, revolution, and identity reinforce that potential, displaying dead prez’s worldview and complicating our understanding of history.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["“KNOW WHAT I’M SAYIN’?”: ADVOCATING HIP-HOP AS A PRIMARY SOURCE FOR HISTORICAL SCHOLARSHIP"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Court Carney","Randi Barnes-Cox","Hunter Hampton"],"dc:creator":["Smith, Christopher"],"dc:date.available":["2024-12-12T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Rap, hip-hop’s most characteristic element, evolved from cultural practices combining in New York and spread across the United States in the latter half of the twentieth century. This thesis argues in favor of the use of rap as primary source material in future historical research. Authenticity has always surrounded hip-hop, making rap a window into artists’ perspectives. Storytelling traditions in rap’s roots allow for fiction’s use as a tool to discuss reality in lyrics. To demonstrate rap’s strengths as a primary source, the thesis examines Let’s Get Free, dead prez’s 2000 debut album. The song “They Schools” is dissected section-by-section to exemplify rap’s potential for lyrical depth to discuss complex topics. Finally, the album’s overarching themes of race, revolution, and identity reinforce that potential, displaying dead prez’s worldview and complicating our understanding of history.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/588"],"dc:subject":["hip-hop","primary source","20th century","african american","dead prez","Cultural History"],"dc:title":["“KNOW WHAT I’M SAYIN’?”: ADVOCATING HIP-HOP AS A PRIMARY SOURCE FOR HISTORICAL SCHOLARSHIP"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["History"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Arts - History"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:30:45Z"}