The Role of Hip-Hop in Community Building and its Influence on Cluj-Napoca’s Young Urbanites “Concrete Rockers”. A Case Study

Main Article Content

Bettina Ene
Iuliu Rațiu

Abstract

This article examines the cultural influence of hip-hop on urban youth in Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania (Romania), through a case study of the “Concrete Rockers” Association. This dynamic group is deeply involved in hip-hop activities, with a particular emphasis on breakdancing, its core focus, as well as organizing hip-hop events such as “One May Jam”—the group’s flagship event. Here, members and special guests participate in various hip-hop activities like DJing and graffiti art. By exploring the motivations and experiences that drive these individuals to engage with hip-hop, we aim to gain insight into their roles as both consumers and practitioners of this culture. The article further investigates how group affiliation and identity are formed within this vibrant and close-knit community, while also exploring the Concrete Rockers’ aspirations to become prominent representatives of hip-hop in Transylvania. Our findings, based on primary data, offer a deeper understanding of hip-hop’s role in shaping the identities and lives of young adults in Cluj-Napoca, highlighting the local adaptations and transnational connections of this global movement and underscoring the positive impact hip-hop has on these individuals.

Article Details

How to Cite
Ene, B., and I. Rațiu. “The Role of Hip-Hop in Community Building and Its Influence on Cluj-Napoca’s Young Urbanites ‘Concrete Rockers’. A Case Study”. Linguaculture, vol. 15, no. 2, Dec. 2024, pp. 118-50, doi:10.47743/lincu-2024-2-0363.
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Articles
Author Biographies

Bettina Ene, Babeş-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Bettina ENE teaches Business English in the Department of Modern Languages and Business Communication at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. She holds a PhD in Linguistics from the same university, with a dissertation exploring constructed language use in the Game of Thrones fandom. Her research focuses on conlangs/artlangs, Internet Linguistics, the relationship between Language and Culture, Fan Studies, Pop Culture, Discourse Analysis, and Sociology. 

Iuliu Rațiu, Babeş-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Iuliu RAȚIU teaches Business and Communication classes in the Department of Modern Languages and Business Communication, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. He earned his PhD in American literature from SUNY-Albany, Albany, NY (2012). He specializes in nineteenth-century American literature and his research interests include cultural studies, intercultural communication, and assessment of students’ work.  

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