This video is comprised of images, video snippets of live performances and music videos that represent the history and culture of hip-hop.
A jazzy hip-hop sound track fades in. Short video snippets from popular works of hip-hop artists are present throughout the video.
The screen transitions to a grid of nine pictures (some still, others in motion) that demonstrate the culture of hip hop throughout history including: an animated cartoon graphic of a DJ mixing on a turntable, close up footage of a needle being placed on a record, footage from a music video “No Scrubs” performed by the group “TLC”, a photo of African musicians and dancers, a colorful painting of Bessie Smith, a contemporary photo of African Art, an interview with Tupac Shakur, and footage from a music video “Hey Ya!” performed by the group “Outkast.” The center square includes text that reads: “Hip-Hop, History and Culture.”The on-screen text reads: “Take an academic class about the history and culture of hip-hop with"...the screen transitions to an animated effect in which a hand holding a can "spray paints" the professor's face onto the screen with the text "Chad Williams, African and African American Studies, History."
Photos, paintings and video footage demonstrate the origins of hip-hop. The on-screen text reads: “And learn how we got from here…” This media ranges from black and white photos of African tribes performing their music to Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, Little Richard, The Supremes, and Bessie Smith.
A new montage of visuals appears features scenes from music videos including: Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Tupac, Digital Underground, MC Hammer, Outkast, Mary J. Blige, Dr. Dre, Lil’ Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Slick Rick, Lauryn Hill, Nelly, Missy Elliott, Flavor Flav, Ice Cube, Joey Bad$$, Eminem, Nicki Minaj, TLC, Beyonce, Drake and Justin Bieber. The on-screen text reads: “… to here …”
The screen transition to white with on-screen text that reads: “and understand how hip-hop has shaped American politics.”
Chad Williams speaks off-camera: "Hip-hop has become a defining feature of American and global culture in the 21st century.
A television clip of Bill Clinton as governor speaking to the public appears on scalongside a television clip of Barack Obama at a podium exciting the crowd with a popular gesture familiar to those of the hip-hop community – brushing off his shoulders.
The transitions to white with on-screen text that reads: “The class reading list.”
The book jacket of a required book in the class zooms into the frame that reads: “Winner of the American Book Award – Picador – Can’t Stop Won’t Stop – Jeff Chang, Introduction by DJ Kool Herc.” On the cover is a young man with his arm folded across his chest and his back to the camera. His T-shirt reads “a History of the Hip-Hop Generation.”
Another book cover uses dog tags as the background to the title: “Pimps Up, Ho’s Down – Hip Hop’s Hold on Young Black Women – T. Denean Sharpley-Whiting.”
Footage from a Cardi B. music video appears on the screen alongside the book cover and the album cover of "The Never Story" by American rapper JID.
Chad Williams speaks off- camera: “The current influence of hip-hop is undeniable and permeates every aspect of social, political, economic and cultural life in the United States and beyond."
The screen fades to white as the Brandeis logo appears on screen while the music fades out bringing the video to an end.