Project: Global rap performance: exploring linguistic and musical diversity in rap cultures and practices across the globe

Ever since hip-hop’s inception, rap has become one of the most popular and influential forms of music worldwide. As it spread around the world, the art of rap interacted with and was affected by a variety of regional dialects, languages, and musical cultures, resulting in distinct rap cultures and practices across the globe (e.g., West Coast gangsta rap, UK grime, reggaeton, baile funk, Nederhop).

This project aims to elucidate how rap in its various forms relates to linguistic and musical diversity. It explores the ways in which rap cultures move, migrate and manifest new approaches to MCing and its (live) performance, thinking through how (minority) languages and local musical histories affect creative output. Performance is a central theme, and the PhD candidate will explore how tenets of Black Atlantic practice (such as antiphony) are re-performed or re-worked depending on context.

Candidates will be expected to have a Master’s degree in an appropriate discipline (e.g., linguistics, musicology, cultural studies, anthropology), and have existing research interest – and ideally practitioner’s experience – on rap cultures, broadly speaking. Additionally, candidates are expected to have an affinity for multidisciplinarity and a desire to work on the intersection of musicology and linguistics. Furthermore, applicants from global majority backgrounds are especially recommended to apply.

The PhD candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School for the Humanities (GSH), and embedded within both the Center for Language and Cognition Groningen (CLCG) and the Groningen Research Institute for the Study of Culture (ICOG). With Prof. Merel Keijzer as the professor of record, this project is primarily supervised by linguist Dr Steven Gilbers, who brings expertise in linguistic diversity and the analysis of (collaborative) rap, and musicologist Dr Alex de Lacey, who brings expertise in live performance in grime and hip-hop.

Organisation
Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has established an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative university offering high-quality teaching and research. Its 34,000 students are encouraged to develop their own individual talents through challenging study- and career paths. The University of Groningen is an international centre of knowledge: It belongs to the best research universities in Europe and is allied with prestigious partner universities and networks worldwide.

The Faculty of Arts is a large, dynamic faculty in the heart of the city of Groningen. It has more than 5,000 students and 700 staff members, who are working at the frontiers of knowledge every day. The Faculty offers a wide range of degree programmes: 15 Bachelor's programmes and over 35 Master's specialisations. Our research, which is internationally widely acclaimed, covers Archaeology, Cultural Studies, History, International Relations, Language and Literary Studies, Linguistics and Media and Journalism Studies.

- (Research) MA degree in linguistics, musicology, cultural studies, anthropology, or another relevant discipline.
- A demonstrable interest and expertise in the study of rap cultures
- Excellent research skills (as shown, for instance, by the candidate’s MA thesis).
- Strong command of English and any language(s) relevant to your particular area(s) of interest.
- An openness to collaborative research and interdisciplinary dialogue.
- Practical experience as a rapper, producer, DJ, or musician is not necessary, but is desirable.

Fixed-term contract: 48 months.

We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

- A salary of € 2,770 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 3,539 gross per month in the final year, based on a full-time position.
- A holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income.
- An 8.3% end-of-the-year allowance.
- A temporary 1.0 FTE appointment for a specified period of four years (or 0.8 FTE for a specified period of five years). The candidate will first be appointed for twelve months. After six months, an assessment will take place of the candidate’s results and the progress of the PhD project, in order to decide whether employment will be continued. The PhD candidate is expected to conduct a total of 0.4 FTE teaching spread over the second, third and fourth year of their appointment.
- Excellent work-life balance.
- Candidate is expected to complete the PhD within the contracted time.
- Willingness to move and reside in The Netherlands.

The appointment is expected to start in February 2025, but there is flexibility regarding start date that can be discussed with the project supervisors. Please note that in the case of VISA applications, the candidate will need to account for 3 months prior to the start date.