This fall, Temple University is taking a powerful step in blending academia with culture by launching a new course centered on Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar. Titled “Kendrick Lamar and the Morale of M.A.A.D City,” the class will explore the intersection of Lamar’s music, identity, and the broader Black experience in America.
Led by Timothy Welbeck, professor in the Department of Africology and African American Studies and Director of the Center for Anti-Racism, the course will dive deep into Kendrick’s lyrics, albums, and cultural impact. Welbeck, who has taught at Temple for 14 years, has long used hip-hop as a tool for education, previously teaching courses on 2Pac, Black urban politics, and the role of hip-hop in shaping identity.
“Kendrick Lamar is one of the defining voices of his generation,” Welbeck told NBC10 Philadelphia. “His art and life reflect the Black experience in many telling ways. Discussing his work in the context of the environment that shaped him provides a unique opportunity to examine both the man and the movement.”
Students enrolled in the course can expect to study three to four of Kendrick’s albums while exploring urban policies that have shaped his hometown of Compton, California. The class will also feature guest speakers, including professionals who’ve worked directly with Kendrick, providing firsthand insights into his creative process and cultural impact.
Beyond Lamar’s discography, the course aims to highlight hip-hop as a legitimate and powerful form of artistic expression – one that documents history, fuels activism, and gives voice to marginalized communities.
Temple University has been at the forefront of embracing hip-hop in academic spaces, and this new offering adds Kendrick to a growing list of icons studied in the classroom, including 2Pac, Beyoncé, and Jay-Z.
Enrollment for the course is now open for the Fall 2025 semester!
