DECATUR, Ill. — Millikin University will welcome acclaimed hip-hop scholar, author, and alumnus Dr. A.D. Carson ’04 back to campus as the featured speaker for the 2026 James W. Moore Lecture on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 6 p.m. in the University Commons Banquet Rooms. The event is free and open to the public, and a book signing will follow the presentation.
Carson, a Decatur native and graduate of Millikin University and Decatur Public Schools, will present “A Beginner’s Guide to Being Dope,” a lecture and reading from his latest book, “Being Dope: Hip-Hop & Theory through Mixtape Memoir,” published in 2026 by Oxford University Press.
As an Associate Professor of Hip-Hop at the University of Virginia, Carson has become a groundbreaking voice in higher education, challenging traditional approaches to scholarship by combining hip-hop, music, history, literature, and cultural criticism.
His return to Millikin gives students and members of the Decatur community a chance to hear from a hometown scholar whose innovative work has earned national recognition.
Redefining scholarship through hip-hop
Carson's latest book, “Being Dope,” challenges conventional understandings of rap, rappers, and hip-hop's role in academic scholarship. Blending original lyrics, poetry, personal reflections, and critical analysis, the book explores the intersections of history, identity, storytelling, and the power of artistic expression.
Part memoir and part scholarly examination, “Being Dope” traces Carson's professional journey while examining how hip-hop can serve as a powerful form of intellectual inquiry.
Carson's career has consistently challenged the boundaries between artistic expression and academic research.
He earned his Ph.D. in Rhetorics, Communication, and Information Design from Clemson University in 2017 with “Owning My Masters: The Rhetorics of Rhymes & Revolutions,” a doctoral dissertation presented as a rap album. The project is believed to be the first rap album accepted as a doctoral dissertation in the United States.
In 2020, Carson made academic history again with “i used to love to dream,” the first rap album to undergo peer review for publication by an academic press. The project, which includes original lyrics, musical samples, and scholarly analysis, explores themes of identity, race, community, and Carson's childhood in Decatur.
The album received a 2021 PROSE Award from the Association of American Publishers and was named a finalist for the 2024 Open Access Book Prize by the American Council of Learned Societies.
At the University of Virginia, Carson is the founding director of the Rap Lab, where he continues to explore the relationship between hip-hop, research, and education. He is also a Shannon Center Fellow for Advanced Studies.
His scholarship and artistic achievements have drawn national attention, including appearances on NPR's “All Things Considered,” “Good Morning America,” MSNBC, and other outlets. His writing has appeared in Rolling Stone, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and the Los Angeles Times, among other publications.
In addition to his academic work, Carson continues to produce music. His 2026 album, “After the Fire,” examines the relationship between human creativity and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
For more information about Carson and his work, visit aydeethegreat.com.
Continuing the legacy of the Moore Lecture Series
Established in 1991, the James W. Moore Lecture Series honors the late James W. Moore of Decatur, a longtime supporter of Millikin University and the Decatur community.
The lecture series was made possible through an endowed gift from Moore's children, James M. (Mac) Moore of St. Paul, Minn. and Madeline Moore of Portland, Ore.
Moore and his late wife, Emmy Lou, were dedicated supporters of the university and the community. Moore retired as vice president of the A.E. Staley Manufacturing Company, now Tate & Lyle, following 36 years of service.
The lecture series brings speakers with innovative perspectives in the arts and politics to Millikin, providing opportunities to challenge and inspire students through ideas and experiences they might not otherwise encounter.
Carson's unconventional approach to scholarship, combining music, storytelling, and academic research, reflects the series' mission of introducing students to thought-provoking perspectives and creative approaches to understanding the world.
