The series “Why Hip-Hop Matters” was supposed to be a 250-word alumni profile on rapper Duval ‘Masta Ace’ Clear and his 30-year career in the business. After a little digging, though, we learned that Clear was an industry icon and that hip-hop’s influence extended far beyond music—to art, poetry, philosophy, rhetoric, professional sports, advocacy, race relations, anthropology, and fashion.
From the Judges
The best stories are the ones that captivate you even if you don’t have a connection to the institution. From a grain of an idea, the Rhode Island team expanded this into a creative series that hits a sweet spot where music, culture, and academia overlap. The topic here is timely and relevant, and their choice to include the lyrics, audio, and social media content was a nice touch. The writing itself is clear and compelling in this novel approach to institutional storytelling.
