Best of CASE District VII Award
 

Institution: University of Southern California

Title of entry: Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: How USC helped propel hip-hop innovation

About this entry: The article, which was the cover story in the Spring 2024 issue of USC Trojan Family Magazine, traces the never-before-told story of how University of Southern California faculty, students and alumni have played leading roles in elevating and amplifying hip-hop on the national and international stage. On hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, the goal was to showcase how pioneering Trojan scholars, musicians, filmmakers, dancers and entrepreneurs have connected USC – which is located in the historic nucleus of West Coast hip-hop – to the thriving musical movement at its doorstep and propelled the art form into the future.

Through their detailed research and reporting, writers Chinyere Cindy Amobi and Rachel B. Levin weave the history of hip-hop at USC as it evolved from a marginalized field of study to an academic and artistic tour de force across the university. Along the way, the authors explore the early contributions of USC-affiliated luminaries including Boyz N the Hood director John Singleton, rappers Dr. Dre and Young M.C., and hip-hop studies pioneer/filmmaker Todd Boyd. Contemporary voices in the piece include USC alumni such as recording artist Saweetie, Billboard music journalist Heran Mamo, and Beyoncé choreographer Jakevis Thomason, along with groundbreaking faculty in arts and communications fields.
Reaching an audience of 375,000 print subscribers and receiving more than 7500 page views online, the feature highlighted USC’s rich resources in arts education, including conservatory-level music, dance and cinema schools; foregrounded the university as an incubator for cultural innovation; and supported strategic priorities including diversity, equity and inclusion.