
Therapeutic Uses of Rap and Hip-Hop
Susan Hadley
In perceiving all rap and hip-hop music as violent, misogynistic, and sexually charged, are we denying the way in which it is attentive to the lived experiences, both positive and negative, of many therapy clients? This question is explored in great depth in this anthology, the first to examine the use of this musical genre in the therapeutic context. The contributors are all experienced therapists who examine the multiple ways that rap and hip-hop can be used in therapy by listening and discussing, performing, creating, or improvising.
The text is divided into three sections that explore the historical and theoretical perspectives of rap and hip-hop in therapy, describe the first-hand experiences of using the music with at-risk youth, and discuss the ways in which contributors have used rap and hip-hop with clients with specific diagnoses, respectively.
Within these sections, the contributors provide rationale for the use of rap and hip-hop in therapy and encourage therapists to validate the experiences for those for whom rap music is a significant mode of expression. Editors Susan Hadley and George Yancy go beyond promoting culturally competent therapy to creating a paradigm shift in the field, one that speaks to the problematic ways in which rap and hip-hop have been dismissed as expressive of meaningless violence and of little social value. More than providing tools to incorporate rap into therapy, this text enhances the therapist's cultural and professional repertoire.
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About Susan Hadley
Reviews for Therapeutic Uses of Rap and Hip-Hop
A. C. Shahriari, Kent State University "Susan Hadley and george Yancy have edited an interesting and compelling book that looks at the role and success of rap and hip-hop music in a therapeutic milieu. The volume would be interesting to music therapists and other individuals who are seeking creative ways of working with adolescents, especially those adolescents who are involved with the rap/hip-hop genre. The strength of the book is in the specific examples explaining how to do this type of therapy as well as the culturally diverse approaches that various authors report. Therapeutic Uses of Rap and Hip Hop makes a compelling and informative case for helping individuals in an strength-based, fluid modality that is fun and engaging." - Carol Drucker, PsycCRITIQUES