Journal of College Student Development

Much more than a musical genre, hip-hop culture exists as an animating force in the lives of many young adults. This article looks beyond the moral concerns often associated with rap music to explore how hip-hop as a larger set of expressions and practices implicates the educational experiences, activities, and approaches for students. The article draws from a multisite, phenomenological study of 6 students involved with hip-hop at a large, public university to illustrate two specific findings: (a) how students used hip-hop sampling as an approach and practice in education, and (b) how hip-hop spaces and practices were integrated into students’ educational lives on campus.