(AllHipHop News) The Harlem that Jim Jones and Chrissy Lampkin grew up on in the 80’s and 90’s is no longer the same. In a recent interview with TheGrio, the pair discussed the gentrification of Harlem, missed business opportunities and more.
According to New York City census data, the population of non-Hispanic white residents of West Harlem increased by over 405% between 2000 and 2010 while the population non-Hispanic Black residents decreased by over 13%. Jim reasons that gentrification can be good for an area if it also takes into account helping those that were originally residents of Harlem with employment.
The Diplomats rapper also explains how the lack of information on financial literacy at a young age was conducive to him and many Black residents of Harlem from prospering:
When we were younger, if that hustle mentality and that business mind were a little bit more adept and we had a little more structure we would’ve known those same buildings we made millions out of we would’ve brought those a long time ago. There would be no gentrification right now, there would be a bunch of Black people owning all the top Brownstones for pennies on the dollar.
Check out the full video below:
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