In this episode of Uncommon Naledge, Dr. Jabari Evans sits down with Dr. Kalonji Nzinga—interdisciplinary scholar, educator, and cultural worker—to explore the rich intersections between Hip-Hop, moral education, and Black cultural futurism. An assistant professor at the University of Colorado Boulder with appointments in Ethnic Studies and Information Science, Kalonji’s work examines how youth use Black popular culture, especially Hip-Hop, to develop moral frameworks and civic identities.

Together, Dr. Nzinga and Dr. Evans reflect on the philosophical and political stakes of teaching with and through Hip-Hop in both formal and informal educational settings. Kalonji shares insights from his research on how rap lyrics, digital platforms, and street culture shape young people’s conceptions of justice, identity, and belonging—especially within Black communities. They also discuss the role of narrative, storytelling, and aesthetics in liberatory pedagogy and the challenges of translating Black creative expression into academic language without extraction.

Later in the episode, Kalonji opens up about how he balances his academic life with his creative practices as a poet, performer, and thinker rooted in community. From his commitments to public scholarship to his reflections on the spiritual and ethical dimensions of Hip-Hop, this is a deeply generative conversation for anyone interested in education, cultural production, and transformative justice.

Uncommon Naledge is hosted by Dr. Jabari Evans and edited and produced by Ava Strauss.

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Original music for introduction and outro produced by Michael "Double 0" Aguilar.