Wu-Tang Clan’s GZA Brings Rhyming Science to Bunker Hill Community College
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Bunker Hill Community College celebrated Black History Month with Dark Matter: An Afternoon of Science and Stories with GZA a.k.a. "The Genius," founding member of Wu-Tang Clan, hip hop artist and science educator. GZA is co-founder of the Science Genius program, which engages high school students in science through hip hop.
“You can use the scientific method to approach any challenge,” GZA told the audience. “You try something, you experiment, and you draw a conclusion.” He described himself as a science enthusiast—not a scientist—and recommended science as a way of understanding oneself. “Everything is connected,” he said, pointing out that sound is vibration and every being emits vibrational music. His forthcoming album, “Dark Matter,” brings science and music together. “Maybe it will influence the gravitational direction of hip hop,” he joked.
GZA, who rapped several scientific concepts along with his story of growing up in New York and developing an early interest in science, drew an enthusiastic response from the audience. Students peppered him with questions and then stood in a lengthy line to get his autograph.
Earlier in the day the hip hop celebrity visited Dr. Belinda Kadambi’s Introduction to Biotechnology class and chatted with students about DNA models they were constructing. He also attended a luncheon with students and others prepared by Culinary Arts majors in the College’s dining room.
The Science Genius program grew out of GZA’s collaboration with Dr. Chris Emdin of Columbia University’s Teachers College. As part of the Science Genius B.A.T.T.L.E.S. initiative, GZA visits high schools, where students battle each other with science raps they write.
GZA’s day-long visit was the centerpiece of eight events at BHCC in February celebrating Black History Month. For the full roster, visit bhcc.edu/bhm.
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About Bunker Hill Community College
With more than 50 years of academic excellence, Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) is Massachusetts' largest community college, annually welcoming a diverse community of around 16,000 students. With campuses in Charlestown and Chelsea, BHCC extends its reach across several locations in Greater Boston. The College offers associate degrees and certificates, early college and dual enrollment, community education, corporate training, and industry-specific training programs. BHCC is celebrated for its diversity, boasting a student body where 65% identify as people of color and more than half are women. The College also embraces a global perspective, with over 600 international students representing 90 countries and conversing in more than 65 languages. Our commitment to diversity is further reflected in BHCC's designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI).