Hip-hop has deep historical ties to disadvantaged communities. Resounding success in mainstream and global music markets potentially disrupts those connections. The authors use in-depth interviews with 25 self-defined rap/hip-hop artists to explore the significance of place in modern hip-hop. Bringing together historical studies of hip-hop and sociological neighborhood studies, the authors examine hip-hop artists’ community connections. Findings reveal that exposure to concentrated racial and economic disadvantage shapes how artists interpret community, artistic impact, and social responsibility. This supports the “black placemaking” framework, which highlights how black urban neighborhood residents creatively build community amid structural disadvantage. The analysis also elucidates the role specific types of physical places play in black placemaking processes.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic prompted instructors of many community-engaged learning (CEL) courses to utilize virtual CEL as a replacement for in-person CEL. Few assessments indicate whether in-person CEL student learning outcomes (SLOs) can be achieved through virtual CEL. Purpose: This study assesses whether an in-person CEL cohort and a virtual CEL cohort achieved the SLOs for a CEL course. Methodology/Approach: The sample for the study is students in the 2019 in-person CEL cohort (n = 13) and the 2020 virtual CEL cohort (n = 13) of a CEL course. Students’ reflective writing is analyzed using focused coding to evaluate the extent to which students achieved the SLOs. Findings/Conclusions: Findings indicate that both cohorts achieved the SLO about career exploration. The virtual CEL cohort did not as thoroughly achieve SLOs on cultural differences, community leadership, and working with others for local impact. The groups utilized reflective practices differently. In this case, virtual CEL was less effective than in-person CEL. Implications: Virtual CEL is not an exact substitute for in-person CEL. Effectiveness in achieving civic-oriented SLOs is likely to improve through further modification of pedagogical approaches and supplemental content and interactions.

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