Spect-Actors in Rap Battles

by Kali Robinson

Diana Taylor describes Augustin Boal’s “spect-actor” concept as “people capable of acting and interrupting the performance, or changing the roles they’ve been assigned.” (Taylor p. 80). Rap battles embody the concept of the spect-actor in a big way, for each battle rapper literally switches from the rapper-role, to a rapper-spectator role, meaning that each rapper in the battle switches between modes of spectatorship and performance; and without ever really completely leaving either.

These two rappers, "Hollow Da Don" and "Loaded Lux" face off against each other in a U DUBB battle rap league competition. Each rapper will take turns rapping, and listening to the other rapper spit, embodying spectator and performer roles in turn.

HHC Selected Tracks From the Deep Underground Edition II

by Kali Robinson

Here it is! Amherst College HHC Selected Tracks From the Deep Underground Edition II. The tracks have been arranged thematically and arc through falling in love, suspension in atmospheric reflection on blackness, racism, and violence, through life of rap, drugs, trapping, and murder, to a reflection on police and city shootings, and on to some freestyle rap, with a gem on Retro Spectro's "Let Me". Check out this dope playlist which will be posted to the music section of the blog and let us know what you think! Love and Hip Hop Always <3.

*Update* "Amherst College Has No Real Reason To Stay Closed Today, So I Guess We're Open" States Chief Carter of Amherst College Police

Police Chief John Carter, addressed the student body in an email early monday morning:

"Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

Ahh, Yea. So the College will open at our normal time today, February 13, 2017 it looks like. Grounds and Custodial staff have been in overnight and through their, frankly, crazy efforts - like I don't know why they just don't stay home and get some rest, what the hell are they trying to prove anyways - the roads, lots, and walkways are in safe and usable condition. The public roads around campus are in good condition and traffic is moving well. And Staff will continue to work throughout the morning to address the clean-up. So yea, we have no real reason to close today unfortunately. Have good fucking day everyone, this fucking sucks."  

John B. Carter

Police Chief/Director of Public Safety

HHC Spotlight: Bklyn Boihood

by Kali Robinson

What's up yall. So in the down time I have had over winter break, I have be studying up on qtpoc, trans-activism, and the transman/transwoman experience. In my exploration I found this dope collective operating out of Brooklyn, aptly named Bklyn Boihood.

So I first encountered this dope group watching this episode of First Person (First Person is dope as well btw - check out their stuff).