In 1992, hip hop duo EPMD released the single "Crossover". The song became an anthem for true hip hop enthusiasts who lauded the song for criticizing rappers who were proverbial "sellouts" for crossing over to the more commercial genres of R&B or pop. The sole purpose that such sellout rappers crossed over, EPMD argued, was purely for financial gain. In doing so, the duo feared that hip hop would be irreversibly damaged having been stripped of its true culture. What does this have to do with our closing keynote? Read on.

Similarly, Dr. Chris Emdin points out that stripping students of their cultural heritage and denying their right to unadulterated expression in the classroom is tantamount to academic death. In his talk, "Keep the Crossover", Dr. Emdin will underscore the importance of creating an inclusive, culturally-integrated classroom that fosters individuality while adding to their collective academic success. He will provide examples of how practitioners can learn from students' authentic environments and harness what they've learned to approve academic outcomes. We can integrate or infuse the best of hip hop and other cultural treasures to bring out the very best in our students.