Temple University will debut a new academic course this fall, focusing on Kendrick Lamar, the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper and cultural icon whose music continues to shape contemporary conversations around race, identity, and inequality. The course, titled Kendrick Lamar and the Morale of M.A.A.D City, will be taught by Assistant Professor Timothy Welbeck of the Department of Africology and African American Studies.
Welbeck, a scholar and recording artist, has previously led courses on hip-hop’s influence within Black culture and its role in chronicling urban marginalization. His latest course will explore Lamar’s discography and evolution as an artist through an Afrocentric lens, analyzing how his Compton upbringing and broader social conditions inform his lyrical narratives.
According to WHYY-FM, the course will also examine the legacy of West Coast hip-hop, delving into the genre’s influence on Lamar’s musical and thematic development. Students will engage with the economic and cultural forces that shaped Compton and how those forces emerge in Lamar’s storytelling.
Guest speakers, including individuals who have collaborated with Lamar, are expected to join the class to offer insights into his creative process. The curriculum aims to merge scholarly analysis with firsthand industry perspectives.
“Kendrick Lamar is one of the leading voices of his generation,” Welbeck said in a social media statement. “He articulates the complexities of Black life and the pursuit of self-actualization while capturing the pain and resilience of rising from marginalization.”
The course arrives amid increasing academic interest in hip-hop as a legitimate field of study. Lamar’s DAMN., which earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2018, marked a historic milestone for the genre and cemented his place in university syllabi nationwide. His music often explores themes such as systemic racism, generational trauma, spirituality, and the intersection of art and activism.
The announcement coincides with a high-profile year for the Compton native. In February, Lamar headlined the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show.
At this year’s Grammy Awards, he secured five wins, including Song of the Year and Best Rap Album. He is currently touring alongside SZA on their Grand National Tour, which wraps in Sydney, Australia, on December 10.
Temple’s course signals a broader institutional recognition of hip-hop’s academic value—and Lamar’s influence as a generational voice worthy of critical study.
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