Temple University is set to introduce an exciting new course this fall that dives deep into the life, music, and cultural impact of one of hip-hop’s most influential voices, Kendrick Lamar.
Titled “Kendrick Lamar and the Morale of M.A.A.D City,” the course will be taught by Professor Timothy Welbeck, a faculty member in the Department of Africology and African American Studies and Director of Temple’s Center for Anti-Racism. The class will explore how Lamar’s art reflects broader themes of Black identity, urban policy, and self-actualization.
“Kendrick Lamar is one of the defining voices of his generation,” Welbeck told NBC10 Philadelphia. “His art and life reflect the Black experience in powerful ways. Studying his journey allows students to understand him as an individual and also understand the broader context of the Black experience in America.”
Welbeck, who previously taught a course on 2Pac, joins a growing list of professors incorporating hip-hop icons into academia. Temple has also offered courses on Beyoncé and Jay-Z, as interest in the cultural significance of hip-hop continues to grow within higher education.
The course promises more than just music analysis. Students will explore urban development in Compton — Lamar’s hometown — and examine how changing policies and environments helped shape the rapper’s worldview and artistic expression.
“We’ll be looking at scholarship around urban policies that reshaped Compton,” Welbeck explained. “Understanding that gives context to Kendrick’s lyrics and life.”
The course comes at a high point in Kendrick Lamar’s career. In early 2025, he swept every category he was nominated for at the Grammys, cementing his status as a generational talent.
