“Back then they didn’t want me, now I’m hot, they all on me.” - Mike Jones, “Back Then”

Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. The state between the Dakotas, next to Wisconsin, below Manitoba and above Iowa. Considered the middle of nowhere to most but home away from home to the most powerful movement in the history of mankind: hip-hop. Name one other culture, group or affiliation that creates space for people from all walks of life to be heard and be valid. All colors, creeds, religions, scholars, activists and evil clowns find a home in the realm of hip-hop. Hip-hop is the voice of today’s youth community. Hip-hop doesn’t bite its tongue and doesn’t censor itself if you are uncomfortable. Much like my attitude at 16, if you don’t respect hip-hop, hip-hop doesn’t need you. So ask yourself what part do you play in the future of this planet? Are you taking notes for the new book or are you still thinking that your outdated text still works for everyone? Often the concept is good but the application is outdated. Ponder that for a moment.

In the spring of 2005 I had the pleasure of performing and speaking on a panel in Lisbon, Portugal. There I am explaining to a group of doctors and educators from around the world how hip-hop promotes positive youth development in what is seen globally as a capitalist nation. A million miles away from Minneapolis, people from across the planet wanted to know how hip-hop culture related to community health. Why? Why else. Go into homes on every continent and you will find the music, the slang, the fashion and the opposition to authority that comes out of hip-hop.

The one person in the audience who raised his hand in opposition to my statement was a professor from Ohio who stated, “Yeah … I live in a capitalist country and we need to skip all this hip-hop stuff and talk about how kids are going to make money.” Not surprised by his desire to make a mockery of me I responded, “No disrespect, but it’s people with that kind of attitude that have trouble connecting with youth.” Well … maybe not in those exact words. I continued to explain to him how young people use hip-hop as a tool for creating small businesses.

Hip-hop teaches youth how to set a goal and reach it. For example, with her own hard earned money, a 16-year-old buys the computer program ProTools, blank CDs, jewel cases and stickers. She gets her craft down enough to create beats and sells them to kids in her school for $5 a CD. She takes the money she made on the CDs and reinvests it into buying better computer programs and equipment, makes better beats, sells more CDs and builds a better business. Is that not an entrepreneur? Wouldn’t it be much easier to explain to someone with that mindset that by going to college to get a degree in business they will be able to build a better future for themselves? I could tell by the exasperated look on his face that he got the point.

The mainstream is persistent in promoting a lifestyle that is nearly impossible for a young person to achieve. This is mainstream culture as a whole and not just hip-hop. In Minneapolis and St. Paul the bulk of the young people who align themselves with hip-hop live in homes with incomes below the poverty line. So when everything that is thrown at you through television, radio, etc., is based on consumption it is only natural that you would want to take part in consumerism.

In 10th grade, I’m at Patrick Henry High School in North Minneapolis. Two gold chains, two gold teeth, hair cut every week, car to match my clothes, all the while working at KFC and living in a one-room apartment with my father in the basement of a building that wasn’t up to code. When I see youth walking around with the latest pair of shoes, wearing the latest fashions and a big platinum (cough … silver) chain, I can’t blame them. I know what it’s like to want something that you can’t realistically afford. Your high school years are based on what people think about you.

It’s a hardcore reality that the system of schooling does not emphasize more individuality. Everyone from the top of the pile to the kid in the corner that still eats out of his nose is categorized and evaluated. Everything is based on a system of grading. If you aren’t good enough you fail. Please believe that the students carry the same grading system with each other that the administrators use. When you can’t get enough money because of job shortages for youth or your parents simply can’t afford it, you are more prone to turning to some sort of criminal activity to get what you want. School feeds on mainstream culture and is a catalyst for this popularity contest called life.

A major turning point in my own life was when our assistant principal let me and my friend Breed organize the talent show. She let us use the proceeds of the show as long as it was for a school-related event. We somehow convinced her that our prom was an appropriate place to spend our proceeds. From there I knew that if I put enough hustle into doing what I like to do, it would pay off. The problem that many older people have is believing that the ideas of young people are invalid. When we get ignored we learn to ignore you. I say this as I walk along the edge of still being called a youth. However, I do know that in order to go into the future and expect any change I have to listen to what young people want, even if it doesn’t line up with my ideas of what “youth development” looks like.

Hip-hop is the voice of the new world, in all of its flaws and glory. Hip-hop is a pretty face with a crooked-toothed, yellow-stained smile. Hip-hop will not end with this festival. It lives and breathes throughout the world, right down into the cracks of the sidewalks in North and South Minneapolis and the East and West sides of St. Paul. It pulls no punches, so it’d be best not to stand in the way. So ask yourself, who’s side are you on? Do you have your own agenda, or do you really want to work toward the future with the future leaders? Ponder that for a moment. ||

Upcoming events include: Metropolitan Youth Council: The Youth Bill of Rights in Winter 2005, and What’s Up Youth Info Line: 6th Annual “Where My Girls At?” Young Women’s Empowerment Conference in May 2006.

For more information, go to YOtheMovement.org or call 612-874-YOYO (9696).

Schedule of Events

The 4th Annual Twin Cities Celebration of Hip-Hop

MAINSTAGE FRIDAY
 
4:45 – Upper Midwest MC Battle Preliminaries
5:20 – Akira Johnson – St. Paul, MN
5:40 – Leroy Smokes – Twin Cities, MN
6:10 – Upper Midwest Production Battle
7:05 – Network Crew – Chicago, IL
7:30 – Upper Midwest Emcee Battle Finals
8:05 – Blue Collar Boys – Bowling Green, KY
8:30 – Moochy C – Twin Cities, MN
8:45 – Big Quarters – Twin Cities, MN
9:05 – Guardians of Balance – St. Paul, MN
9:25 – Interlock All Stars – Twin Cities, MN
9:50 – Slum Village – Detroit, MI
 
OUTDOORS FRIDAY
NO OUTDOOR EVENTS
 
MAINSTAGE SATURDAY
 
5:25 – Style Network Crew – Kansas City, MO
5:50 – Upper Midwest Beatbox Battle
6:25 – Soulistic – Minneapolis, MN
6:30 – Upper Midwest BBoy Battle Finals
7:40 – 3rd Party – Brooklyn, NY
8:00 – Purest Form – St. Paul, MN
8:20 – Trama Sutra – Queens, NY
8:40 – Fiction – Twin Cities, MN
9:10 – Knowledge MC – Twin Cities, MN
9:35 – Doomtree – Twin Cities, MN
10:05 – I Self Devine – Minneapolis, MN
 
OUTDOORS SATURDAY
 
4:00 – Free and Open Market Begins
4:10 – Soulistic
4:30 – Upper Midwest Bboy Battle Preliminaries
 
MAINSTAGE SUNDAY
 
5:30 – Teens Rock the Mic – Twin Cities, MN
5:40 – Indigo – St. Paul, MN
6:00 – Upper Midwest DJ Battle
7:00 – Upper Midwest Dance Battle Finals
7:40 – Melody Beats – Twin Cities, MN
7:55 – HEAT – Twin Cities, MN
8:10 – Cleazy – Bowling Green, KY
8:30 – AD – Minneapolis, MN
8:50 – Maria Isa – Puerto Rico/St. Paul
9:15 – Illuminous 3 – Minneapolis, MN
9:35 – The C.O.R.E. – Minneapolis, MN
10:00 – Slick Rick – New York, NY
 
OUTDOORS SUNDAY
 
4:00 – Free and Open Market Begins
4:30 – Upper Midwest Dance Battle Preliminaries
7:00 – Free and Open Market Ends 

BREAKDANCING WORKSHOPS

With Daylight and Asia-One
Call YO! The Movement for more info...612.874.YOYO (9696)