Since conscious rap music became a recognized force in the American culture, many jewels have been ‘dropped’, so to speak. Many ‘pearls of wisdom’ have educated those who would have otherwise never considered the info being presented. That knowledge has translated many street lessons from the days of the Message by Duke Bootee & Melle Mel, to political knowledge spit by Public Enemy. You can find spiritual and life lessons by KRSONE and now lessons about history from Lin-Manuel Miranda.
About 10 or 11 years ago, I used to have weekly meetings at my store front in downtown Newark, NJ every Sunday. We used to discuss Hip Hop related topics for our internet radio show and invite anyone who stopped by to join the discussion. Similarly, as I continue to update and open the Hip Hop Archive in Plainfield, I’ll be hosting discussion groups for the Spring/Summer Think Tank. These discussions will be used to further the general knowledge about the power of Hip Hop Kulture. We will also reveal how implementation of a Hip Hop-based curriculum can help engage students who have become apathetic to the standard educational system.
For a few years now, I have been relatively quiet about my views on Hip Hop, but as you might be able to see, that is about to change. Hip Hop as a culture has been cheapened by the state of modern rap music and ignored for the true power it wields. However, with the amazing rise of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s epic concept album about the life of Alexander Hamilton adapted for the theater, the beliefs of many have been confirmed. Hip Hop is brilliant edutainment! Whether you agree with me, or remain a skeptic, you are free to attend in person or on-line for the live discussion about just why so many consider themselves Hiphoppas.
For the clear version visit the Plainfield Public Library (NJ).
You can contact me for more details on how to participate locally or on-line (info@hiphoplives.net). If you are a radio show producer, educator, student or artist contact me on facebook.
One – Kurt Nice
Kurt Nice
Kurt Nice aka Kurtiss Jackson is a behind the scenes pioneer in the Hip Hop Kulture, creating the first nationally distributed video mix tape series, Shades of Hip Hop, in the late 1990s. Since touring the country with the Stop the Violence Movement and the Temple of Hip Hop as KRS-ONE’s National Marketing Director, Kurt Nice has been a constant commentator on conscious Hip Hop and its relevance to the new rap music of today, through radio and cable appearances. contact Kurt at info@hiphoplives.net
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