How a Daily Iowan Alum Became Known as ‘The Notorious Ph.D.’

PHOTOS COURTESY TODD BOYD Communication studies grad Todd Boyd pioneered the study of hip-hop culture and its connections across film, music, art, sports, fashion, and politics.

Years before he became a nationally known cultural commentator and scholar, a column Todd Boyd (91PhD) wrote for the Daily Iowan helped him discover the power of his voice. Boyd was finishing up his doctorate in communication studies at the University of Iowa in 1991 when he wrote about watching the NCAA men’s basketball national semifinal between Duke and UNLV. Duke had beaten Iowa in the second round of the tournament, but on this Saturday night at a crowded downtown bar, Boyd watched as fans cheered for Duke to beat UNLV.

“It was kind of surprising to me when people were so vocally in favor of Duke,” Boyd says. “I thought, this is strange; maybe it’s about a bit more than basketball and has to do with the image of both teams, which were diametrically opposed.”

Todd Boyd (91PhD)

It prompted Boyd to write a column for the UI’s independent student newspaper about how Duke, which had several star players who were white, and UNLV, which was largely led by Black players, were viewed through a racial and cultural perspective. Strong reactions from readers on both sides of the issue prompted the realization that Boyd could use his voice as a writer to spark important conversations. “And that felt like a superpower,” he says.

It’s a power that has propelled Boyd throughout his career. Known as the “Notorious Ph.D,” Boyd is the chair for the study of race and popular culture and professor of cinema and media studies at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. He has become a well-known media commentator, author, and scholar, having developed a field of study at USC centered on hip-hop culture.

Boyd has appeared in many award-winning documentaries, including the Emmy-winning The Last Dance in 2020 and 20 Feet From Stardom, which in 2014 won the Academy Award for Best Documentary feature and the Grammy Award for Best Music Film. He has written eight books, including his most recent, Rapper’s Deluxe: How Hip Hop Made the World (Phaidon Press, 2024), which he’s currently adapting into a documentary series.

Boyd returned to Iowa City this past April, when he was awarded the Ida Cordelia Beam Distinguished Visiting Professorship. He spoke as part of the university’s lecture series at the Old Capitol, talking about a variety of subjects involving race and sports.

“Professor Kembrew McLeod, who arranged the whole thing, said at one point he thought this was a victory lap, considering my success, and I thought that was an appropriate metaphor,” says Boyd. “I’ve had the good fortune of having a very successful career, I’ve become very visible, I’ve done a lot of different things, and it’s nice to be recognized and honored, period.”

Boyd is currently researching and writing two new book projects. The first will revisit the Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier boxing match dubbed “The Fight of the Century” and the culture war of 1971. The second will highlight the cultural history and influence of jazz icon Miles Davis.

Boyd credits Iowa, which is known as the Writing University, for putting him on a path to success. “It has this vibe of a place you go in, focus on your writing, and focus on your work,” he says. “I felt like this would be a good place for me to focus and accomplish what I was trying to accomplish.”