Rap Lyrics For Class is a podcast discussion between rapper/teacher Kameelah Waheed and a special guest who will analyze one song per episode. Guests include artists and educators who love hip hop and have insightful commentary on how to interpret the lyrics of rap music.
The goal of Rap Lyrics For Class is to provide excellent thought-provoking lyrics for students and teachers who want to liven up the class with music that can inspire a spirited discussion and lead to analysis of various topics of interest. The podcast is also meant for aspiring young rappers to study and gain inspiration from great lyricists who came before them.
Rap Lyrics For Class covers topics that include social issues, politics, protest, relationships, self-perseverance, etc. The podcast is geared towards schools, particularly students interested in music, yet it can also be used in classrooms for other subjects across the board, and ultimately open to anyone who wants to utilize the program.
The idea for Rap Lyrics For Class as a podcast was conceived by Executive Producer, Joe Malachi, who was a social studies teacher for two decades, and managed after-school programs for a dozen years. He explains, “I always saw how music connected with students in the classroom and would heighten their interest in the topic of the lesson, leading to amazing engagement and discussions. In the after school music programs, young enthusiastic rappers would come out, yet often they seemed to be missing the influence of the great lyricists who established the craft, and instead they would just try to emulate what seemed popular at the time. So we wanted to create a podcast appropriate for teachers to use with their students in class, and one that would also inspire up and coming rappers to take their lyrical creativity to another level. Kameelah is a respected artist and educator, and I was fortunate that she accepted the invitation to collaborate with me in creating this program. She has been an invaluable producer and host.”
Rap Lyrics For Class serves as a model for discussions that teachers can facilitate on songs which can be found on the playlists we curate.