This goes out to all HipHoppers!!!
Rappers, DJs, breakers, writers and all those who got some love for the culture.

What attracts YOU to HipHop? Why are you into it? Was everything better back in the days or is HipHop more alive than ever? What is HipHop about in 2009? I’m currently doing a scientific study for the University of East London and I’m interested in a possible change of motivations within the HipHop community. Since the commercialisation of rap music during the 1990’s HipHop has spread across the world; however, some say that the real HipHop died along the way. The reasons to do, watch or listen to HipHop (Rapping, DJing, Breakdancing and/or Graffiti) seem to have changed since Herc and Bambaataa. So is the majority by now in it for fame and money? Who’s taking it serious? Who just wants to have some fun? And how does it influence your well-being? I wanna know where HipHop is going and what drives people to be part of it.
Please take 20 minutes and complete my questionnaire.
Fill it out HERE!

Detailed Information:

My name is Yannick Jacob and I’m currently conducting a study about HipHop and motivation with the University of East London where I am doing my Masters in Applied Positive Psychology.
The aim of my study is to find out why people in 2009 are into HipHop and its elements (Rap, DJing, Breakdance Graffiti) and detect possible changes in that motivation during the last three decades and especially since the commercialisation of rap music in the 1990’s.
HipHop as a cultural movement in the 1970’s and 80’s and what it provided for its followers, can be connected to every component of prevalent wellbeing theories such as the Self-Determination Theory (SDT, Ryan & Deci 2000: autonomy, competence and relatedness) or Psychological Well-Being (PWB, Ryff & Keyes 1995: personal growth, self-acceptance, purpose). However, it is reasonable to suggest that since rap music has spread into the mainstream (and into the world) motivations to participate and sympathise with HipHop as a culture have changed. I have found many references in the literature about the reasons people got involved in HipHop in the early years but I could not find a single study about what drives (young) people to do HipHop in 2009.

I aim to include as many different populations within the HipHop community as possible, whether they are actively involved or just sympathising (varying across culture, colour, age, gender, education, level of involvement, genre preference, element affiliation, residential area etc). This is where I need your help in distributing my questionnaire to literally anyone that considers him or herself connected to HipHop in any way. If you’re one of them, please fill out the questionnaire yourself.

You will be asked to fill out a simple questionnaire. First some questions about where you are from and your involvement in HipHop, then two open ended questions about what got you into HipHop in the first place and your motivation to engage in HipHop now. Another questionnaire will then ask you several questions about your general aspirations in life and your well-being.
Overall this should take no longer than 20minutes depending on how much you choose to write about your motivations. It is entirely up to you how much you write, however, the more the better.

Fill out questionnaire HERE!

Download questionnaire HERE!
and email it back to: hiphopstudy@jazzmen.be

Or alternatively:
Download the questionaire in your language by clicking on the link below and email it back to: hiphopstudy@jazzmen.be

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...If you want to help translating this into other languages, please get in touch with me: hiphopstudy@jazzmen.be