Virginia Hip Hop and Place

Abstract

Despite its continued importance in the maintenance of black identity, hip hop has become a global phenomena popular among all races. In this age of mass cultural exchange, hip hop culture itself endures glocalization, that is it serves the global market, but becomes customized to suit the local culture. Where hip hop was orginally confined to specfic boroughs In New York, hip hop artists are now composing from their own local thresholds in regions all over the United States and worldwide. Virginia USA is a region that is increasingly thriving in regards to hip hop artists, fan base, and lifestyles. The hip hop identities found in Virginia are a product of Virginia's situatedness in the broader hip hop landscape. This study will shed light on the connections among music, place, and identity and specfically delve into Virginia's situatedness between the East Coast and Southern rap sub genres as they relate to Virginia's place based identity.