Hip-hop's presence in academia creates an opportunity for the institution and the professor to practice culturally relevant pedagogy. Coined by Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings, this approach to teaching requires educators to use their cultural competence and critical thinking skills to increase student engagement and retain their attention. The practice also serves as a springboard to integrate social justice themes into the course objectives. From a practical standpoint, hip-hop in academia fosters an environment where students can become practitioners. For example, the University of Virginia's mu...