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.