As a celebration of the release of our very first issue, The Word will host a 2-day virtual event on the evenings of June 4th and 5th to highlight some of the key concepts we hold central to our foundation as a hiphop studies journal including the function of hiphop as a mode of creative expression, a voice for marginalized communities, and a method of inspiring activism. See details in the flyer above and RSVP for the Zoom link at bit.ly/thewordrsvp.

On Thursday, June 4th at 5 p.m. PT, The Word welcomes Dr. Regina Bradley, Dr. A.D. Carson, and Dr. Gwendolyn Pough for a panel on “Trap and Hiphop Studies in the Academy.” Panelists will discuss their own experiences and backgrounds as academics learning and working in the field hiphop studies and explore the development of trap music in the hiphop South. 

Friday evening will feature a Hiphop Arts students showcase with three Stanford student performers: Lil Seyi (@whoisseyi), Linda Sol (@_lindasol), and VII (@gt.vii73). The student performances will begin at 6 p.m. PT, and the event will close with an outro set by Bay-Area DJ Fíera. Anyone interested in attending our 2-part launch party can RSVP and find the Zoom link here!

We use this panel discussion and arts showcase to commemorate the production of our first issue as a Volunteer Student Organization (VSO) at Stanford University. Though the issue was nearly two years in the making, its release falls during a time of great tension and division that was hardly anticipated when this project began. Come be in community with us this week to celebrate our debut, learn more about hiphop, and appreciate the talents and visions of our performers. 

Our first issue can be located by clicking on the “Issues” tab of our website. In it we have included an introduction written collaboratively by the student editorial board of The Word with our advisor Dr. Tessa Brown, as well as three research articles by Stanford undergraduates. But The Word is now open to submissions from students from any college or university! Check out our Submissions page for more info, and our Resources page to learn more about hiphop studies and academic publishing.

We hope you enjoy reading the words of those who devoted their time and effort to contribute to the area of hiphop studies, and we invite you to join us this Thursday and Friday to celebrate these contributions and learn more about hiphop and the power it holds.