HipHoponomics Lyrical Lesson: "The Battle for Trade"

One of the most popular songs off my 2017 album, "HipHoponomics Vol. 2: The Man, The Myth, Adam Smith", "The Battle for Trade" delves into the important (and very timely) Free Trade vs. Protectionist debate, featuring soundbites from two individuals who embody each side of this debate, namely the late economist Milton Friedman (Free Trade) and President Donald Trump (Protectionist). The song is set up as a rap battle between a supporter of free trade and a supporter of protectionism, with each side rigorously putting forth in-depth arguments. The "Battle for Trade" lyrical lesson includes links to my SoundCloud account and YouTube channels to play the track, as well as vocabulary building activities, lyrical analysis, and four different follow-up activities. The "Battle for Trade" has caught a lot of attention in the economics world, with retweets from famed economist Tyler Cowen, international trade journalist Shawn Donnan, and international trade lawyer Scott Lincicome. This HipHoponomics strategy has been a dynamic learning tool in my classroom for years, and I believe it could be in yours as well!