Keepin’ it on da streets? UK rap and music education

This is a perspective on UK’s take on hip hop. Better known as UK rap due to its current expansion of musical styles within the genre, including its exposure by social media and the association with another genre, grime, this perspective illustrates why UK rap is not sufficiently explored in English school education. This concept also links with Black British music, which has existed over 100 years, and yet, it still has not been cemented in school education. With the specific focus on UK rap, this perspective discusses its absence in the national curriculum in England by reflecting on the following: (1) the lack of understanding of the genre and its origins, (2) how rap can be included in music education and (3) why learning rap independently is perhaps more favourable in non-educational environments such as creative and public/social spaces.