Dr. Dave Canton A Triple Threat:

A Director, Hip Hop Historian, and Podcaster

Story By: Mia Brabham

“I teach the past but I don’t live in the past, because I can’t live without my Wi-fi, like LL Cool J who can’t live without his radio.

The witty, gregarious, and loquacious Dr. David A. Canton has enough energy and passion to power a large lecture room ― or more aptly ― an entire academic program.

After a nationwide search, in August 2020 Dr. Canton was named Director of the African American Studies Program at University of Florida. As a full time administrator, Dr. Canton’s role is to ensure that the program, which just celebrated its 50th anniversary, follows its mission statement by providing students first rate teaching, bringing in compelling speakers, recruiting a new cohort of engaging faculty, offering a dynamic set of classes and running the budget. But his true goal? Taking the program to the next level ― and with enthusiasm, passion and short and longterm planning.

“The opportunity to build a department is exciting,” he says. “The founders of Black studies programs across the country knew the power to make institutional change comes through departments.”

He believes a reinvigorated program has an opportunity to help shape public policy and make societal change. He is passionate and adamant about building a 21st century program that teaches students how to become critical thinkers and take what they’ve learned into their communities, as well as the country at large.

Teaching and learning is intergenerational and his pedagogy is “not either-or, it’s a synthesis.” He recognizes the power of social media and technology, and is dead set on providing the students the tools and resources they need to merge theory and history with the audience they can reach on social media.

When their students have online debates, “they can respond with facts, content and analysis. They can quote a scholar and a book. Like in chess, they will have their opponent in checkmate.” Dr. Canton encourages his students to embrace the acquisition of knowledge ― and like a rap battle ― he wants his students prepared and ready to win.

Born and raised in the Bronx, Dr. Canton didn’t grow up having any Black teachers. He didn’t learn about Ida B. Wells and W. E. B. Du Bois until getting his B.A. in history from Morehouse College. While pursuing his MA in Black Studies at The Ohio State University, he learned as a scholar that he must “read everything, and one has to read more than one perspective.”

While it’s impressive, shaping a department (and hopefully, in the future, a graduate program) is certainly not the only interesting thing he does at the University.

Dr. Canton is an Associate Professor of History who teaches 20thcentury African American history, including the Civil Rights Movement, Why Sports Matter, and the History of Hip-Hop.

“I just revised the syllabus for my Hip-Hop course and I’m really excited.”

The course examines Hip-Hop music and culture from its Bronx origins to current day. Dr. Canton takes students on a memorable and engaging hip-hop journey from start to finish, emphasizing voices including Rakim, Cardi B., Kodak Black, Trina, Kendrick Lamar, and so many more. Students are required to compose, explain and perform their rhymes in the class.

“There is no judgement. If you want to do ratchet, do ratchet! If you like to rap about going to the clubs, popping bottles, and how much drip you have, rhyme about that! If you grew up wealthy and Black, I don’t want you to rhyme about how you grew up in the hood eating mayonnaise sandwiches and drinking red Kool Aid. I want to hear about your summers at Martha’s Vineyard and stories about your grandparents who graduated from college in the 1950s. Coming from an upper middle class Black family doesn’t make you any less African American. I provide students with creative freedom, and that’s Hip-Hop.”

The class also touches on the cultural impact and conversations surrounding Hip-Hop. There’s a unit on respectability, where Dr. Canton talks about the binaries for female rappers. He explores why female MCs like Meg Thee Stallion and Cardi B. are criticized for taliking about sex, while Queen Latifa and Lauryn Hill are praised for not talking about sex.

“Black male rappers can talk about sex and are praised. The question is, ‘What are the origins of those ideas?’”

Dr. Canton likes to incorporate data in his courses. An interesting conversation he brings up in his class is that White people became the number one consumers of Hip-Hop in the 90s. In spite of many commercial Hip-Hop artists’ offensive lyrics, more African Americans are enrolled in college, and the “Hip-Hop Generation” of African Americans born between 1964-1984 is one of the most successful generations in history.

“We don’t just look at anecdotal evidence, we look at data. Simple math: Whites are the majority. And they listened to ‘gangsta’ rap or commercial Hip-Hop to live vicariously through the lyrics, like watching an action movie. Unfortunately, too many White consumers embrace the lyrical fantasies and assume that’s how all Black people live.” Dr. Canton also talks to students on how to ensure that those who create Hip-Hop are properly compensated.

For a new project in the class, students are tasked with creating an 8-minute podcast. Classmates team up and become producers, editors, and hosts. For Dr. Canton, this isn’t an unfamiliar venture into a modern-iteration of radio media; he knows all about podcasting.

Dr. Canton brings three degrees worth of knowledge and years of teaching experience to the table as host of his podcast, titled “The Podcast for Your Punk Ass.” On the show, he talks about race, history, sports, pop culture, and politics. Everything from the n-word to the lack of Black football coaches in the NFL has been discussed.

“I’m like a Black Baptist Minister; when the spirit hits me I start to drop that knowledge!”

The 30-minute shows are free-flow, and he brings his love for music to the podcast by including music produced by his friend of 20 years, Jerry Beeks, a member of the Hip-hop group Bronx Slang.

“I am most proud of the consistency of our podcast.”

They started the show three years ago in the fall of 2017, and just released their 40th episode.

“It’s a small, intimate audience. Our #1 listener, outside of my wife, is a woman from Hamden, Connecticut.”

Outside of the University and his podcast, Dr. Canton is passionate about engaging the Black community in Gainesville and is looking forward to working with local leaders and organizations.

With Dr. Canton on the mic, in the community, and as the director of the African American Studies Program at the University of Florida ― change is on its way.