| Hip-Hop is no longer limited to rap music and break | | | | Herc and others. Rap, graffiti, spoken word are all part |
| dancing; today it represents a multi-billion dollar industry | | | | of hip-hop. There, of course, is much more that is |
| that influences everything from fashion to prime- time | | | | hip-hop, but you wouldn't know it through playing video |
| television programming, professional sports, mass | | | | games that are based on hip-hop. |
| media marketing and advertising. Today Hip-Hop is | | | | TJ Crawford, founder and executive producer of the |
| becoming a way of life, a culture that is intricately | | | | MPR Report, a radio talk show airing weekly on |
| woven into every aspect of young people's daily lives. | | | | WVON 1690 AM, has said, "It's beyond just hip hop, it's |
| Artists like Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Public Enemy, 2Pac | | | | beyond just a generation, This is about people who |
| (to some extent right?) and many more use hip hop to | | | | want better for their people and recognize the power |
| describe the social inequities of the Black community | | | | that is in the music. People who move in that same |
| and the inner city. They are putting a very human feel | | | | type of spirit are trying to see who they can connect |
| to issues that are calloused by misinterpretation and | | | | with to take it to that next level." |
| exoticism and sensationalization. Artists like 50 Cent | | | | Opportunities are few outside of the ghettos; |
| and the genre of 'gangsta rap' have become | | | | therefore, their language focuses on their world. Instant |
| extremely popular in America today, in part because | | | | gratification reflects the short life expectancy. Thus, |
| of corporate manipulation and the large, multiracial | | | | when money is gained, it is for conspicuous |
| audience that now exists for hip-hop music. | | | | consumption. Hip hop is the culture of a people who, |
| Hip-hop is an expression of the social, political and | | | | separated from mainstream society, turn into |
| economic problems associated with living in urban | | | | themselves to create their own standards of survival |
| areas. Since African-Americans are the dominate | | | | in a hostile world. |
| group in urban centers, their influence is the largest on | | | | However, those that continue to proclaim "victim, |
| urban music. Hip-hop lyrics, with their emphasis on | | | | victim" will never realize beyond their "victimhood." With |
| "keepin' it real" and marked by a colossal indifference | | | | hip hop having such a big influence today, more than |
| to mainstream taste, became an equally powerful | | | | ever before, it is enlightening to see some |
| influence on young black men. These two influences | | | | organizations realizing a responsibility to protect the |
| have created a brand-new, brand-name generation | | | | integrity of such a powerful influence. This is brought |
| that refuses to assimilate but is nonetheless an | | | | about by public education organizations, dedicated to |
| important part of mainstream American culture. | | | | raising public awareness about social, cultural, political |
| Legendary hip hop icon Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, of the | | | | and economic issues important to the hip-hop |
| pioneering hip hop group RunDMC, told a crowd | | | | generation in America and throughout the world. |
| recently that what they see on television in music | | | | One such organization, the Hip-Hop Summit Action |
| videos is "show business" and not a true reflection of | | | | Network which was founded in 2001, is dedicated to |
| what hip hop represents. "The whole purpose of hip | | | | harnessing the cultural relevance of hip-hop music to |
| hop is to inspire, to motivate and to educate. It is the | | | | serve as a catalyst for education advocacy and other |
| transfer of information whether you are in the ghetto | | | | societal concerns fundamental to the well being of |
| or Beverly Hills. Hip hop is about the life we | | | | at-risk youth throughout the United States. HSAN is the |
| live-especially for Black people," DMC said. "Hip hop | | | | largest non-profit, worldwide coalition of hip-hop artists, |
| was created to make it known that we as a people | | | | entertainment industry leaders, education advocates, |
| are in charge of our purpose and our destiny. The true | | | | civil rights proponents, and youth leaders united in the |
| purpose of hip hop was not just to create rappers," he | | | | belief that Hip-Hop is an enormously influential agent for |
| added. | | | | positive social change which must be responsibly and |
| Rapping developed both inside and outside of hip hop | | | | proactively utilized to fight the war on poverty and |
| culture, and began with the street parties thrown in the | | | | injustice. |
| Bronx neighborhood of New York in the 1970s by Kool | | | | |