Rice University’s Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning (CERCL) will honor hip-hop pioneer Mia X by inducting her into its Hip Hop Archival Collection. The event, titled “Mia X: Soldier, Survivor, Savant,” is set for Sept. 18 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Grand Hall at the Rice Memorial Center.
Known as “The Mother of Southern Hip-Hop,” Mia X’s influence stretches beyond music, encompassing film, literature and even the culinary arts. The first female rapper to sign with Master P’s No Limit Records, her multifaceted career as an artist, entrepreneur and educator has spanned more than three decades. As a result, Mia X has become a symbol of resilience, creativity and empowerment, not only in the hip-hop world but also as a business leader and community advocate. Her induction into the Hip Hop Archival Collection recognizes the impact of Mia X as an artist whose work intersects themes of social justice, race and empowerment.
“Mia X is a major figure in the history of hip-hop, blazing a path many others have followed,” said Anthony Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Distinguished Professor of Humanities and founding director of CERCL and Rice’s Center for African and African American Studies. “Having Mia X contribute to the CERCL Hip Hop Archival Collection helps us to extend Rice’s engagement with the expansive geography of hip-hop. We are excited to bring Mia X to campus, and we look forward to our ongoing connection.”
The contributions of Mia X will be celebrated during a panel discussion featuring Pinn; Chinara Butler, widow of the late Pimp C; and G Dash, a key figure in the SwishaHouse movement. The discussion will explore Mia X’s pioneering influence and the enduring impact of her work on hip-hop culture.
Founded by Pinn as a way to preserve hip-hop’s cultural importance while highlighting its role as a platform for intellectual and community leadership, the Hip Hop Archival Collection is a cornerstone of CERCL’s mission to document and honor the cultural significance of hip-hop, particularly in the South, where artists like Mia X have shaped the genre’s evolution. The archive features materials from other key artists such as Pimp C, Too Short, K-Rino and SwishaHouse. It’s housed in Fondren Library’s Woodson Research Center.
The event is co-sponsored by the CCM Foundation, Fondren Library, Woodson Research Center and ViiV Healthcare, whose contributions make the preservation of hip-hop’s cultural legacy possible.
Register for the event here.