WELFARAP: Hip Hop as Anti-Fragile Welfare Practice

On Friday, 22 November 2024, the Politecnico di Milano played host to a groundbreaking event: WELFARAP, the first academic conference on Hip Hop Studies in Italy. Organized by Emanuele Belotti and Irene Bianchi with the support of CRAFT Competence Centre of the Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU) and of Fondazione Cariplo, this one-day conference explored how hip hop culture, particularly rap music, can act as a catalyst for social welfare in diverse contexts.

The event was a testament to the evolving recognition of hip hop’s relevance beyond music, delving into its transformative role in schools, penitentiaries, street education, and neighborhood centres, and laid the groundwork for bridging the gap between hip hop pedagogy and Italian academia.

A DAY PACKED WITH DISCUSSIONS AND INSIGHTS

The conference brought together over 25 distinguished guests from across Italy, including artists, researchers, and social practitioners. The day unfolded across five engaging panels, each shedding light on how hip hop culture intersects with local welfare policies and fosters community resilience. Notable speakers included celebrated figures such as Tormento (Sottotono), Luca Barcellona aka Lord Bean, and Alessandro Tamburrini aka DJ Baro (Colle der Fomento), who shared insights from their personal and professional experience with hip hop. 

Artists such as Wissal Haubabi, a poet, and Luc Ndikubwimana, a performer who blend creative languages with activism practices, participated in the discussion. Testimonies from various actors working within this perspective—including Network Keep it Real, Giovani Onde (Bergamo), Associazione 232 (Milan), Cooperativa La Quercia (Trieste), Centro Sociale Cantiere, and the Youth Promotion Directorate of the Municipality of Milan—formed the foundation for a debate joined by professors and researchers specializing in welfare, housing, urban policies, and pedagogy from Politecnico di Milano and Università degli Studi Milano-Bicocca. 

Participants discussed themes ranging from the use of rap in educational settings to its empowering and emancipatory role. The panels emphasized how hip hop has demonstrated its resilience as an anti-fragile practice—thriving under pressure, fostering empowerment in the face of systemic challenges, and supporting the development of capabilities. Moreover, it contributes to enabling vulnerable individuals to enhance their capacity to “aspire.”

A HIP HOP CELEBRATION AT BARRIO’S

The intellectual discussions of the day transitioned into a vibrant hip hop evening at the Barrio’s aggregation center in the Barona neighborhood. Featuring performances by renowned artists and emerging rappers, the event embodied the ethos of hip hop as an empowerment instrument. The evening brought together community members, students, and fans of the genre, offering a space where culture and pedagogy intertwined.

Stay tuned as WELFARAP continues to build on its vision of hip hop as a transformative force for good!