Cultural relevance: hip-hop music as a bridge to the digital divide

America faces a real challenge to its position as a global leader in information technology, which impacts the preparedness of the national workforce. The 21/sup st/ century worker is facing a dynamic environment, where knowledge, speed, and technical proficiency will determine the "haves" and the "have nots". This lack of technology proficiency has produced a "digital divide" for many underrepresented groups. This paper proposes to use a medium that is culturally relevant to inner-city youth-hip-hop music-to increase information technology awareness and acceptance, fostering use of resources that offer wealth-creation in an Internet-based economy.