The University of Massachusetts Amherst and the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University recently partnered with the Hip-Hop Education Center (HHEC) to launch “Fresh, Bold & So Def: Women in Hip-Hop Archives and Scholarship,” a new initiative dedicated to advancing the cultural legacy of women in hip-hop music.
Developed by HHEC President Martha Diaz, the three-year initiative will activate new research, classroom learning, creative production, multimedia storytelling, public scholarship, and community-centered dialogue across the UMass Amherst and Princeton campuses.
“This is more than an academic collaboration, it’s a powerful reclamation,” said Diaz. “Women have shaped hip-hop from the beginning, often without acknowledgment or permanent record. Fresh, Bold & So Def ensures that our stories aren’t just preserved, they’re studied, uplifted, and amplified by the next generation of artists, scholars, and cultural keepers.”
In Fall 2025, UMass Amherst launched its first course under the initiative, “Hip-Hop Cultures.” The course combines archival research methods with live engagement from women in hip-hop. Additionally, the new initiative allowed UMass Amherst to welcome Priscila Altivo, the inaugural Lisa Cortés Fellow. Altivo is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Afro-American studies at the university and contributing to the development of the Women in Hip-Hop Archives.
At Princeton, the Lewis Center for the Arts is slated to launch a new course, “Miss-Education: The Women of Hip-Hop.” In this dynamic class and multimedia performance lab, students will create live performances and participate in conversations with prominent women in hip-hop.
Going forward, both universities will develop a series of public symposia, conferences, and exhibitions. The first major student-led event will be held at UMass Amherst in April. The conference will feature installations showcasing women’s contributions to dance, music, film, beatboxing, theatre, and visual arts.