Student Perceptions of the Hip Hop Culture’s Influence on the Undergraduate Experience

This study sought to determine how identification and engagement with the hip hop culture influenced the educational experiences of undergraduate students at a Midwestern, predominately White university by interviewing 11 students who self-identified as being immersed in the hip hop culture. Through a qualitative, phenomenological investigation, the hip hop culture was found to have a positive impact on the collegiate experiences of undergraduates specifically as it related to socialization, personal expression through language and clothing, goals, and cultural appreciation of college students.