Depending on whom you ask, the term "hip-hop" can mean a number of things. It could be that music at a party. It may constitute a subculture that has its own fashion, language and attitude. Perhaps it is something that promotes and glorifies crime. Whatever meaning is attached to it, hip-hop has definitely carved a niche in American culture and has gone on to become a global phenomenon. From March 23rd to 24th, the Hip-Hop and Cultural Studies Collective will be holding the first hip-hop conference at the University titled "The Hip-Hop Paradigm: Mapping and Transcending Its Boundaries" in which the different aspects and views of hip-hop will be examined through workshops, concerts and academic papers.

The Hip-Hop and Cultural Studies Collective (HHCSC) began in 1999 and was responsible for bringing recording artist Mos Def for a panel and concert during the Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium of 2000. "The HHCSC feels it is necessary to host such a conference for several different reasons," says Social Work student Aleesia Tolliver. "One, there are a lot of scholars examining hip-hop culture and this conference provides a space in which these individuals can come together and exchange ideas. Two, we have observed the gap that exists between those who study hip hop on an academic level, those who are practitioners of hip hop, and the general hip-hop community." The aim of the conference is to bring these people, academic and non-academic, together to recognize that hip-hop can be studied and used to educate others.

The conference begins on Friday, March 23rd at 9 a.m. with registration and opening remarks in the School of Education"s Student Lounge. The day is highlighted with workshops and films facilitated by various artists. Toni Blackman, founder of Washington D.C. Freestyle Union, will lead a workshop dedicated to the art of freestyling. New York City-based DJ and rapper Tony Touch will conduct a workshop on deejaying. Electro-funk pioneer Afrika Bambaataa will discuss the fifth element of hip-hop, knowledge. Break dancing legend Crazy Legs of the Rocksteady Crew will facilitate the B-boy/B-girl class titled "Essence of the Foundation." The workshop/film portion of the day will conclude with a screening of the classic film "Wildstyle." The film"s director, Charlie Ahearn, will be on hand for questions and discussion.

Around 9 p.m., the Michigan League Ballroom will play host to Tony Touch, who in 2000 released his album The Piece Maker, which featured artists and groups ranging from Total to Mos Def. At the same time, Afrika Bambaataa will be performing with several other deejays in the League Underground. Bambaataa is probably best known for his work on the early-1980s hip-hop/electronic classic "Planet Rock."

On Saturday, the conference shifts into a more academic, yet intriguing, mode. Approximately 46 papers will be presented on 12 different panels, each panel featuring a different theme or area of study. The presenters come not only from the University but also from places like Columbia, the University of Southern California and the University of Toronto. The panel topics range from hip-hop pedagogy to black feminist politics to race and authenticity. To conclude the two-day affair, New York University professor Tricia Rose will deliver the keynote address. Dr. Rose wrote one of the first dissertations devoted to the study of hip-hop and also has authored "Black Noise: Rap Music and Black Culture in Contemporary America" along with numerous other articles.

Given the scope and nature of hip-hop, it is impossible to define it as one entity. The variety of paper topics and special guests is a testament to that. This conference gives those both familiar and unfamiliar a chance to broaden their concept of what is or can be done with hip-hop.

In the effort to the conference more accessible, attendance to the workshops and paper presentations is free of charge. Tickets for the Friday night shows are on-sale at the Michigan Union Ticket Office and will be sold at the door as room permits. The Bambaataa tickets will be $5 or $10 at the door. For more information regarding times, venues and paper topics, check the conference"s web site: www.umich.edu/hhcsc.