Annual Africana Studies Symposium

The Africana Studies Department proudly presents the third annual Africana Studies Symposium, featuring a special conversation with legendary funk pioneer George Clinton, widely known as the Master of Funk. The conversation will be lead by Dr. Mike Mason, chair of the Africana Studies Department at Berklee College of Music.

A groundbreaking architect of modern Black sound, Clinton revolutionized music as the creative force behind Parliament-Funkadelic. His visionary fusion of funk, soul, psychedelic rock, and Afrofuturist aesthetics reshaped the sonic landscape of the 1970s and beyond. Clinton’s influence extends far beyond funk—his catalog has become one of the most sampled in hip-hop history. From West Coast G-funk to East Coast boom-bap, generations of rap artists have built upon the grooves, basslines, and rhythmic innovations he created.

Often called an icon and innovator, Clinton’s work laid the foundation for artists across genres, including hip-hop legends whose careers were shaped by the sampling of P-Funk classics. His music is embedded in the DNA of rap culture, making him one of the most influential figures in contemporary Black musical expression.

Led by Dr. Mason, this dynamic conversation will explore:

• The cultural and political power of funk as a movement
• Afro-futurism, performance, and Black creative imagination
• The evolution from funk to hip-hop and the art of sampling
• Ownership, legacy, and intellectual property in Black music
• The inter-generational bridge between 1970s funk and modern rap

This symposium offers students, faculty, artists, and community members a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of the architects of modern music about creativity, resistance, innovation, and legacy. Join us for an afternoon celebrating the enduring power of Black music and cultural expression.