In my latest piece for the Huffington Post, I look at the role of colleges and universities in the formation and evolution of hip hop, especially rap music.  As it turns out, many influential performers have gone to college themselves, and the college/university scene has always been important in disseminating rap music, either through radio stations or by providing an alternative touring circuit.

As the mainstream industry increasingly discourages innovation in favor of money-making hits, colleges and universities could play an even more important role in rap’s future as well.