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Grade 11: Assembly - Abstract Hip Hop and Mathematics

February 24, 2023

On February 23, juniors gathered at the Xianmian Annex to attend the weekly assembly. Edouard from class 11(1) introduced his insights of abstract hip-hop through mathematical lenses.

Edouard started by reviewing major mathematical concepts like function and domain. He presented his main topic, abstract hip hop, by applying these concepts. Afterward, Edouard explained the sub-genres through mathematical approaches. He linked the concept of space and point sets to an abstract hip-hop album called “Madvillainy”. It was praised for its innovative production and Doom's lyrical prowess. It became a cult classic and a defining album in the underground hip-hop scene. Edouard also introduced another work of abstract hip-hop, “Some Rap Songs,” with various concepts. For instance, the album has a spatial structure because each song occupies a specific place within the album’s overall structure. The sequencing of the songs creates a narrative flow that gives the album a sense of direction and purpose. Edouard also explored “Aethiopes” by Billy Woods. He linked it to Hausdorff distance, nature of measurement, and abstract distance – d. The last abstract hip-hop album presented was “By the Time I Get to Pheonix”. This album tells the story of a man who is leaving his lover in Phoenix, Arizona, and driving to California with evocative lyrics.

Overall, Edouard successfully employed unique approaches to his interests in hip-hop. The speech highlights the interdisciplinary nature of art and science, and serves as an important reminder of the diversity and innovation within the hip-hop genre and the potential for mathematical analysis to uncover new insights. It also encourages the juniors to think creatively and outside of traditional disciplinary boundaries in their own pursuits. Edouard's speech certainly was a thought-provoking and engaging exploration of the intersections between math and music for the juniors.

(Written by 11-8 Jennifer Picture by SHSID Media Group Edited by 11-8 Chelsea, 11-8 Jessica Tham, 11-5 Elizabeth Xu, Supervised by Yueer Gao Reviewed by Qian Zuo)