Hip Hop Science
Hip Hop Science at The Hip Hop Museum (THHM) explores and celebrates scientific innovation, creativity, and the supreme mathematics that live in Hip Hop.
Tune In to the stream LIVE!
Thursday, November 3, 2022, at 7 PM EDT
with Jaron Lanier and Kwame Holland
About
Hip Hop Science at The Hip Hop Museum (THHM) explores and celebrates scientific innovation, creativity, and the supreme mathematics that live in Hip Hop. At the THHM, Hip Hop Science engages students across NYC and beyond with Back2theLab, a journey into the scientific connections between beat mathematics, sampling, rhyming, and dance. Supported by the Simons Foundation and led by Dr. Stephon Alexander, The Hip Hop Science Project engages the public and young people in our community through exploration, mentorship, and conversation. Hip Hop Science brings together Hip-Hop icons and renowned scientists in public forums that center dynamic conversations about the interwoven worlds of science and hip-hop. Among our goals is to transform how underrepresented youth identify with science and engage with scientific culture. Livestream hip-hop participants include recording artist Vinnie Brown, Naughty By Nature, Kwame Holland, award-winning artist/producer, and Will Calhoun, drummer, Living Color. Helming the conversations is renowned astrophysicist, Dr. David Spergel, virtual reality pioneer and Microsoft scientific leader, Jaron Lanier, behavioral neuroscientist, Dr. Aya Osman, computational biologist, C. Brandon Ogbunu, and moderator, Dr. Delilah Gates.
Hip Hop Scientists
Dr. Stephon Alexander
A theoretical physicist, computational physicist, and author whose work is at the interface between cosmology, particle physics, quantum gravity and music technology. His expertise lays in constructing new theories and models of the early universe that has predictions for the universe at present, such as a dark energy and dark matter. He also combines mathematics and tools from theoretical physics into machine learning, the geometry and cognition of musical perception, signal processing and computational algorithms.
Alexander is a Professor of Physics at Brown University, and the President of the National Society of Black Physicists. Alexander is also the Executive Director of the Harlem Gallery of Science. He had previous appointments at Stanford University, Imperial College, Penn State, Dartmouth College and Haverford College. Alexander is a specialist in the field of string theory and cosmology, where the physics of superstrings are applied to address longstanding questions in cosmology.
Dr. Aya Osman
Behavioral Neuroscientist
Aya Osman is a behavioral neuroscientist and inter...
Jaron Lanier
Virtual Reality Pioneer and Microsoft Scientific Leader
Dr. David Spergel
Astrophysicist
Favorite Hip Hop song: GZA - The Spark
Favorite s...
Dr. Delilah Gates
Moderator
Delilah Gates is a graduate student in the Physics...
C. Brandon Ogbunu
Computational Biologist
A computational biologist whose research investiga...
Hip Hop Artists
Will Calhoun
Living Color, Drummer
Will Calhoun is a drummer and member of Living Col...
Kwamé Holland
Award-winning Recording Artist
Favorite Hip Hop Song : “Freedom” Grand Master Fla...
Vinnie Brown
Naughty By Nature
Programs
Hip Hop Science Project
I eat MC’s up like a pack of hungry lions so step out my way, I’m droppin’ science.
— Marley Marl, Featuring Craig G – DROPPIN’ SCIENCE, (1988).
Envisioned by world-renowned physicist, Dr. Stephon Alexander, the Hip Hop Science Project is a series of one-hour video live streams pairing a notable scientist of color with a Hip Hop icon. The two will drop knowledge through a spirited conversation about the intersections of science, Hip Hop music, and Hip Hop culture. From ancient instruments that inspired binary code to the sonic cadence of rap lyrics, each conversation is designed to educate and inspire students and adults. The Hip Hop Science project is produced by The Hip Hop Museum and made possible through a generous grant from the Simons Foundation. Droppin’ science and knowledge in Fall 2022.
Back 2 the Lab
The Back 2 the Lab wing of the Hip Hop Science project will be a short, 7-10 minute film, that introduces NYC Public School students (Middle and High School) to the myriad of ways science, technology, and hip-hop are integrated.
Dr. Stephon Alexander will take us back to his High School alma mater, DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, New York, and share his personal experiences with the students. Joining Dr. Alexander will be behavioral neuroscientist, international fashion model Dr. Aya Osman, and multiple Grammy award winner, widely acclaimed drummer, member of the rock band Living Colour, Will Calhoun.
Behind The Scenes
Partner
The Simons Foundation’s mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences.
Co-founded in 1994 in New York City by Jim and Marilyn Simons, the foundation exists to support basic — or discovery-driven — scientific research undertaken in the pursuit of understanding the phenomena of our world. Marilyn Simons served as president of the foundation until 2021, when David Spergel was appointed president of the foundation.
The Simons Foundation’s mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences.
Co-founded in 1994 in New York City by Jim and Marilyn Simons, the foundation exists to support basic — or discovery-driven — scientific research undertaken in the pursuit of understanding the phenomena of our world. Marilyn Simons served as president of the foundation until 2021, when David Spergel was appointed president of the foundation.
The Simons Foundation supports interdisciplinary projects that explore the intersection of science with art, music, design and more. It powers programs that connect science to peoples’ existing interests and identities, with a focus on traditionally underrepresented communities. Programs they fund include informal education experiences, live science events, media productions and capacity building efforts.
To learn more about the Simons Foundation’s current and past projects funded by Science Sandbox, visit: https://www.simonsfoundation.org/outreach/science-sandbox/supported-projects/
(source: https://www.simonsfoundation.org)
