Dead Presidents to Represent Me? Hip-Hop's Conflicted Legacy of Power and Protest

Hip-hop has long served as a voice for marginalized communities, addressing issues such as systemic racism, economic inequality, and political oppression. From its early days with artists like Public Enemy, 2Pac, and N.W.A. to its modern mainstream dominance, the genre has shaped and been shaped by political discourse. This project examines hip-hop’s evolving relationship with politics across three distinct presidential eras: the Bush administration’s antigovernment sentiment, the hope and skepticism surrounding Obama’s presidency, and the complex shifts in artist allegiances during the Trump era. By analyzing key songs, artist statements, and cultural moments, this research highlights the ways hip-hop has both challenged and conformed to political shifts, questioning whether the genre still upholds its activist roots or has succumbed to commercial and ideological shifts.

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

English

Grantor

Texas State University

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Cortez, Marcus

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Leake, Eric

• hip-hop politics
• power
• protest

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10877/21655

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digital.library.txst.edu:10877/21655