Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Program in Comparative Literature

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

This dissertation examines the representations of Africanness in conscious hip-hop as a multidimensional framework for decolonizing Black beingness and fostering transnational solidarity among African-descended peoples. By analyzing how conscious hip-hop artists engage with Africanness through lyrical and visual means, this study positions Africanness as not merely a historical or cultural reference but as an active and evolving strategy for liberation. Using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) methodology, this research explores song lyrics, visual aesthetics such as album artwork, and the public imagery of artists. Drawing on Pan-Africanism, Afrocentricity, and decolonial theory, this study frames Africanness as a critical lens through which conscious hip-hop artists challenge Eurocentric constructs and reimagine Black existence in emancipatory terms. It includes songs of both well-documented artists frequently cited in academic literature for engaging with Africa in their music and less-cited artists, thereby illustrating the extensive presence of Africanness in conscious hip-hop. This dissertation identifies Africanness as both a symbolic and practical tool for subverting colonial frameworks, deeply rooted in Pan-African and Afrocentric ideals. It also critically examines the challenges associated with conscious hip-hop’s deployment of Africanness as a decolonial project. Ultimately, the study challenges us to shift our focus from viewing the African-American community primarily as victims of systemic oppression to focusing on the frameworks this community uses to assert agency in the continued struggle for freedom.

Date

3-28-2025

Committee Chair

Susan Weinstein

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Available for download on Friday, March 26, 2032

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