Invited Symposium III: Celebrating 50 Years of Hip-Hop: How Music and the Arts Shape Social Work Science

Music and the arts have been used for centuries to convey the triumphs and tragedies of humanity’s lived experience. Arts-based methods are gaining recognition within social work science for their ability to center the community’s voice and to honor the voices of lived experience. This year marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, a style of music that became the modern voice of a generation of urban youth and young adults for its raw ability to convey anger and rebellion at a system that perpetuates injustice and inequity. This symposium aims to:  Discuss the history of arts and music in social work research  Synthesize the epistemological frameworks guiding the examination of and methods in arts/music in social work research  Articulate practical considerations for adopting arts/music-based approaches