Catastrophe Cypher: Hip Hop as Resistance after Hurricane Maria

Location

King Building 127

Document Type

Presentation

Start Date

4-27-2019 1:00 PM

End Date

4-27-2019 2:20 PM

Abstract

The purpose of this research project is to analyze the role of Puerto Rican Hip Hop in the wake of Hurricane Maria. This project focuses on how the rapper Vladi portrays the structural, personal and emotional realities of the hurricane and the subsequent disaster on both a lyrical and sonic level. Following the scholarship of Antonio Vázquez-Arroyo on catastrophization, Naomi Klein on the Shock Doctrine and disaster capitalism, and recent calls for understanding contemporary Puerto Rican literature through the lense of “Literature of Disaster”, this project poses a new way of understanding Hip Hop post-Maria - as a “Hip Hop of Disaster”. Through lyrical and production analysis, I will focus on Vladi’s most recent EP “Rápfagas”, analyzing his lyricism and production. I hope to convey how this EP proposes new futures for the role and possibilities of Puerto Rican Hip Hop after Hurricane Maria.

Keywords:

Music, activism, colonialism

Notes

Session III, Panel 7 - Artistic | Resistance
Moderator: Gina Pérez, Professor of Comparative American Studies

Major

Comparative American Studies; TIMARA

Advisor(s)

Gina Pérez, Comparative American Studies
Peter Swendsen, TIMARA

Project Mentor(s)

Gina Pérez, Comparative American Studies

April 2019

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Apr 27th, 1:00 PM Apr 27th, 2:20 PM

Catastrophe Cypher: Hip Hop as Resistance after Hurricane Maria

King Building 127

The purpose of this research project is to analyze the role of Puerto Rican Hip Hop in the wake of Hurricane Maria. This project focuses on how the rapper Vladi portrays the structural, personal and emotional realities of the hurricane and the subsequent disaster on both a lyrical and sonic level. Following the scholarship of Antonio Vázquez-Arroyo on catastrophization, Naomi Klein on the Shock Doctrine and disaster capitalism, and recent calls for understanding contemporary Puerto Rican literature through the lense of “Literature of Disaster”, this project poses a new way of understanding Hip Hop post-Maria - as a “Hip Hop of Disaster”. Through lyrical and production analysis, I will focus on Vladi’s most recent EP “Rápfagas”, analyzing his lyricism and production. I hope to convey how this EP proposes new futures for the role and possibilities of Puerto Rican Hip Hop after Hurricane Maria.