Music executives and listeners have tried to understand the history and evolution of rap and hip-hop music for years.
   Dr. Murray Fortner, NE Campus English professor, is sponsoring “Hip-Hop Nation,” a hip-hop summit, Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 12:30 p.m. in the NSTU Center Corner.
   Topics include hip-hop and the church, a segment that will cover musicians and ministers joining forces to deliver a message to the community.
   Hip-hop and the schools will take a look at how hip-hop fashion is becoming the mainstream in schools.
   The final segment, hip-hop as scapegoats, will focus its energy on black middle-class people leaving the communities they came from and moving to suburbia.
   Guests include local radio personality Headkrack from The Rickey Smiley Morning Show on KFBB, 97.9 FM The Beat and hip-hop artist Dooney.
   Headkrack was touted as an up-and-coming hip-hop artist and was one of the featured hip-hop artists on the 2003 and 2004 Vans Warped Tour.
   He has opened shows for other acts like Run DMC, Common, Jurassic 5, De La Soul, Big Pun and Xzibit.
   The panel discussion and performance from Dooney will last until 2 p.m. Students interested in attending the summit can call Fortner at 817-515-6964.