A new academic offering at Howard University is placing global rap superstar Cardi B at the center of scholarly study, signaling a continued shift in how higher education engages with contemporary Black culture, music, and business.
The historically Black university has announced a fall 2026 course titled “The Cardi B: Am I The Drama? The Art, Production, Marketing and Cultural Impact,” an interdisciplinary class designed to examine the Bronx-born artist’s influence across music, media, and entrepreneurship.
“This is not your traditional textbook curriculum,” said Professor Jasmine Young, director of the Warner Music Blavatnik Center for Music Business. “Students deserve a proactive, immersive learning environment where the lessons are current, culturally relevant, and rooted in real strategy.”
Culture Meets Curriculum
At the heart of the course is Am I The Drama?, the rapper’s 2025 project rollout, which will serve as a case study for students exploring marketing strategy, brand development, and audience engagement in real time.
The three-credit course will be co-taught by Dr. Msia Kibona Clark and Professor Pat Parks, combining insights from African studies, theatre arts, and music business. It will cover areas including production design, storytelling, choreography, and the broader machinery behind successful music campaigns.
Students will not only analyze Cardi B’s work but also develop practical skills to execute similar large-scale creative and commercial projects.
Examining Power, Gender, and Representation
Beyond business and branding, the course will critically examine the cultural and social dimensions of Cardi B’s career. Faculty say her trajectory provides a lens to explore issues such as misogynoir, respectability politics, and the policing of Black women in public life.
“Her career allows us to critically engage how Black women navigate power, pleasure, and public scrutiny,” said Dr. Clark, noting the course will apply a hip-hop feminist framework.
The curriculum also situates the artist within broader conversations about Black feminism and global hip-hop culture, encouraging students to rethink traditional definitions of empowerment and authenticity.
A Growing Academic Trend
Courses centered on hip-hop and its leading figures are not entirely new, but the decision by Howard University to build an entire course around Cardi B reflects a broader institutional recognition of hip-hop as both a scholarly discipline and a major economic force.
Educators say such programs validate the contributions of women in a historically male-dominated genre while also preparing students for careers in an evolving, culture-driven industry.
“This course is about activating culture in real time,” Young added. “It’s about bridging artistry, business, and impact through one of the most influential artists of our time.”
Registration for the course is now open ahead of the fall 2026 semester.
