Black males in higher education continue to face persistent challenges due to overt and covert racism, hindering their progress towards graduation, particularly within Historically White Institutions (HWIs). This study examines the factors contributing to the invisibility and barriers faced by Black males, including engagement, academic achievement, and lack of motivation, which contribute to low persistence and graduation rates among Black male college students. Existing research often fails to acknowledge the intelligence of Hip-Hop music and culture, with society emphasizing superficial aspects such as misogynistic and homophobic. Taken together, overlooking the intellectual contributions of Black men and Hip-Hop music and culture will guide my discussion as I argue that it stems from society's failure to validate the experiences, perspectives, and authentic expressions of Black men. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]