Hip-hop Doug E. Fresh delivered the keynote address at Howard University’s 2nd Annual Hip-Hop and Higher Education Symposium, which took place on the DC campus on Friday. Video model Melyssa Ford was also in attendance.

This year’s theme is “Hip-Hop for the 21st Century: Bridging the Gap Between the Academy, the Industry and Underground Hip-Hop.”

The event, which wasfree and open to the public, was sponsored by The Moorland Spingarn Research Center of Howard University, which is a repository of black history and culture.

In addition to Doug E. Fresh, the 2nd Annual Hip-Hop and Higher Education Symposium featured appearances by rapper Consequence, BET’s 106 & Park hosts Terrence J and Rocsi, Gabriel “Asheru” Benn, Dr. Jared Bell, Shakir Stewart (Sr. VP of A&R, IDJMG), Melyssa Ford and other Howard university faculty and students.

“The Hip-Hop And Higher Education Symposium will be history in the making,” symposium coordinator Joshua K. Wright told AllHipHop.com. “Howard University is attempting to begin a new era in higher education by creating the first college minor in Hip-Hop in the nation. The number of black men attending and graduating from college still lags behind that of whites and black women. Too many of our young black men are falling victims to streets and prison. A minor in Hip-Hop could encourage more black men to attend and graduate from college.”

Wright, a Doctoral Student in History, said the goal is develop program over the next three years, which he hopes will serve as a model for other historically black colleges and universities.

“A number of high schools, colleges and universities are offering courses on Hip-Hop. Educators, nationwide, have realized that Hip-Hop is a vital tool that can be used
to advance the scholarship of learning. Most importantly Hip-Hop continues to be a voice for many young black Americans and other minorities throughout the country. Hip-Hop provides the voice for today’s youth that previous generations found in the civil rights and black power movements.”