The Black Students' Association (BSA) is expecting more than 500 people at its weekend conference, which is bringing together a host of rap artists, record executives and industry observers to explore the relationship between rap and social responsibility.

"People realize that we have a unique opportunity to talk to rap artists who have been in rap for a while and observers of rap who have watched it grow," said Joshua D. Bloodworth '97, a conference organizer. "With the death of Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G., we are at a crossroads in rap."

The day-long event, which includes an evening concert, features keynote speaker Minister Conrad Muhammad of the Nation of Islam and a variety of panel discussions.

Artists like Butterfly of Digable Planets, Vinny of Naughty by Nature, Mic Geronimo and the rapper Bahamadia are expected to attend the conference and lead a variety of panel discussions.

Other featured speakers include Michael Eric Dyson, a University of North Carolina professor and author of the recently-released Between God and Gangsta Rap, and Dream Hampton, editor-in-chief of the magazine Rap Pages.

According to Bloodworth, the purpose of the conference is "to look at rap music, where it started, where it's going and some of the issues and problems it faces."

Panel discussions will focus on topics like recent trends in rap music, the relationship between the artists, their communities and their music; and the myths and reality of hip-hop culture.

"One of the themes of this conference is to bring together in discussion artists, executives, listeners and journalists involved in hip-hop and the issues surrounding the culture," Bloodworth said.

Bloodworth said the invited speakers were enthusiastic about coming to the conference.

"Unlike other music genres, rap artists have always been part entertainer, part spokesperson for their community and part role model," Bloodworth said.

Despite the recent controversy surrounding rap, Bloodworth said he did not expect much negative criticism of rap to come from the conference.

"Because of the people we have brought together, we won't have anyone demonizing rap music, but we won't have anyone deifying it either," he said. "We expect a variety of viewpoints to be expressed."

Conference organizers said they expect the event to attract many area youth as well.

"We wanted this to be a youth-oriented conference," said Dionne A. Fraser '99, BSA vice president. "It's important that the kids understand the music and that they understand that it is also a business. It does have a social responsibility, but it is also a business."

"The kids need to understand what is real and what is fabricated," Fraser added. "There are a lot of kids out there who can't distinguish between the two, and they're the ones that are the most impressionable."

Bloodworth said he is optimistic that the conference will grow to become an annual event.

"Because of the publicity and the scope of the conference, we are setting a precedent," he said. "Record executives will begin to expect this type of thing from us because it is an opportunity for discussion."

Tickets to the conference are $12, and tickets to the post-conference concert are $10. Tickets to both events are $20 and can be purchased by calling the BSA at 495-0685. All proceeds from the event will be donated to area community centers