Afrofuturism – encyclopedia entry

St. James Encyclopedia of Hip Hop Culture

March 7, 2018

Published by St. James Press

The term afrofuturism refers to approaches for thinking about the intersections of race, culture, and technology in the lyrical and visual elements of hip hop music.  The explorations of science fiction, historical fiction, and fantasy that permeate hip hop culture make the art form a constant source of inspiration and discussion for those interested in contemplating speculative narratives produced by black people. In addition, the turntablism, vocal instrumentation like beatboxing, and the utilization of electronic and digital devices to produce the music amplifies the extents to which rap generates interest among those interested in studying the intersections of black people and technological use.