Tufts Blogs

It’s funny how college is supposed to be about picking a major and sticking to it, yet my favorite class at Tufts has absolutely nothing to do with international relations. Instead, it’s called The Intersection of Hip Hop and Social Change, taught by none other than David “Dee-1” Augustine. Yes, my favorite professor is also an activist and rapper. The beauty of Tufts’ open curriculum is that it allows you to take these unexpected turns and find yourself somewhere completely different and way more exciting.

The class itself was like nothing I’d ever taken before. Each week, we dove into the gritty, vibrant history of hip hop and its influence on social movements. This wasn’t just theory; it was lived experience, especially with guest speakers like Murs and Lupe Fiasco, who’d casually drop stories about their own lives and struggles. It was surreal hearing from artists whose concerts I’d been to, now discussing everything from social justice to the complex relationship hip hop has with consumerism.

For me, these conversations were a wake-up call. In international relations, the global stage is everything, but here was a reminder that powerful change happens at every level—even in a four-minute track with a killer beat. Listening to artists like Lupe, who rapped about struggles I’d read about in textbooks, made me rethink what “impact” could look like and where it could come from. It turns out, sometimes the best diplomacy doesn’t happen across a table; it happens on stage, with a microphone.

Beyond the discussions, what really made this class was the freedom to explore and create. Sure, I knew the basics of business and entrepreneurship thanks to my minors, but applying them in a completely new context? That was the challenge. In one of the class’s more surprising twists, our final project was to create an actual hip hop album. Yes, you read that right. A Tufts hip hop album, “Special Topics 0151,” featuring our class as “Young Prophets of Progress,” ended up dropping on streaming platforms. I’ll admit, it’s a sentence I never expected to write.

Working on my song, Crumbs 2 Loaves, wasn’t just about putting together rhymes (which is harder than it looks, by the way). The track was my ode to financial empowerment, weaving in themes about generational wealth and the responsibility that comes with it. I tried to channel what I’d learned about financial planning into something that could resonate—because, let’s face it, there’s no textbook that makes you want to save for retirement quite like a good beat does.

The last part of the project was probably the most intense: marketing the album. It was one thing to make a song, but quite another to get people to listen to it. My classmates and I brainstormed ways to promote our work, from digital campaigns to on-campus events. I’d been through a few marketing courses in my time, but this was hands-on in a way that no class project could replicate. Getting your face out there, connecting with an audience—suddenly, marketing wasn’t just a checklist. It was a genuine hustle, with all the highs and lows that come with it.

Looking back, I can see how much this course, despite having zero overlap with international relations, taught me about community impact, resilience, and creativity. Tufts’ open curriculum lets you step out of your academic “lane” and find a space where learning feels less like an obligation and more like an adventure. If you’re thinking about Tufts, know that sometimes, the most meaningful part of your education isn’t tied to your major at all. And if you happen to stumble across “Special Topics 0151” on Spotify, well, now you know the story behind it.