Hip-Hop traces its origins to street parties in the Bronx of New York City in the early 1970s and gradually became a cultural force by the 1990s. In the last few decades, the musical genre has garnered serious attention in the academic world. At the forefront of the academic discussion is a former Springfield Public Schools teacher and University of Illinois-Springfield graduate.
You’re invited to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum as Dr. A.D. Carson reads from his new book, Being Dope: Hip-Hop & Theory through Mixtape Memoir, published in 2026 by Oxford University Press and learn how a rap album he created served as his doctoral dissertation to earn a Ph.D. Years later, he published the first rap album ever peer-reviewed for release by an academic publisher.
This special program happens Thursday evening, December 10, 2026, in the ALPLM Union Theater. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Program begins at 6:30 p.m. This program is free to attend but advanced registration is required. A book signing will follow the program. You’ll have the opportunity to purchase a copy of the book that evening or in advance when you register for the program.