This course focuses on rap, hip hop and RnB music from the US and from the 2010s and 2020s. We will study musical extracts and analyze their lyrics and musical structure (at a very accessible level) as well as music videos and live recordings. The main focus will be on albums by Beyoncé (Lemonade, Everything is Love, Black is King), Frank Ocean (Channel Orange, Blonde) and Kendrick Lamar (Good Kid M.A.A.D City, To Pimp a Butterfly, DAMN).
We will be looking at the creations of these artists in relation to the cultural, political and social context of their albums. Based on analyses of the uncensored versions of their music and the clips, we will pay particular attention to gender issues and the representation of minorities. We will also look at the commercial issues and technical aspects that govern the conditions under which this music is produced.