According to rap pioneer Kurtis Blow, he and Grandmaster Flash have co-founded A.O.L. (the Alliance Of Legends), which boasts membership from Kool Herc, DJ Hollywood, Kool DJ Red Alert, Afrika Bambatta and Grandmaster Flash, the one who conceived the original idea. The pioneers aim to maintain the spirit of old school while making positive changes. "Our main objective is to lock down the old school and keep the tradition of the old school alive," Kurtis Blow told allhiphop.com. "We want to do a lot of old school jams every month." Another one of A.O.L.’s missions is to lessen the generation gap between the old and new schools. "We are going to show the new kids love. That’s all you hear about, these old guys that are frustrated. ‘Aw man, we used to do it like this and (the new school rappers are) making all the money,’ he said. "Forget about that. Let’s support their shine so that they can come back and support us." Concerned, he also said that the group sought to mend the rift between rap and "real hip hop." "A lot of the rappers today say that they are not hip hop. ‘F### hip hop.’ I heard somebody on a rap record say that," he said. "I hear hip hoppers say that ‘rap is not hip hop.’ That is so untrue. There’s a big gap." Within the community, Kurtis also said A.O.L., a non-profit organization, will seek to help disenfranchised children and organizations raise money. He cited several specific causes including a marching band of "problem children" being mentored by Tyrone "Fly Ty" Williams of Cold Chillin’ Records fame. "We are going to get back out there and start supporting our community. This is what’s needed," Kurtis said. "And we need our people to come out and support us."
According
to rap pioneer Kurtis Blow,
he and Grandmaster Flash have co-founded A.O.L. (the
Alliance Of Legends), which boasts membership from
Kool Herc, DJ Hollywood, Kool DJ Red Alert, Afrika Bambatta
and Grandmaster Flash, the one who conceived the original
idea. The pioneers aim to maintain the spirit of old
school while making positive changes. "Our main
objective is to lock down the old school and keep the
tradition of the old school alive," Kurtis Blow
told allhiphop.com. "We want to do a lot of old
school jams every month."
Another one of A.O.L.’s
missions is to lessen the generation gap between the
old and new schools. "We are going to show the
new kids love. That’s all you hear about, these
old guys that are frustrated. ‘Aw man, we used
to do it like this and (the new school rappers are)
making all the money,’ he said. "Forget about
that. Let’s support their shine so that they can
come back and support us."
Concerned, he also said
that the group sought to mend the rift between rap and
"real hip hop." "A lot of the rappers
today say that they are not hip hop. ‘F### hip hop.’
I heard somebody on a rap record say that," he
said. "I hear hip hoppers say that ‘rap is
not hip hop.’ That is so untrue. There’s a
big gap."
Within the community, Kurtis also said A.O.L., a non-profit
organization, will seek to help disenfranchised children
and organizations raise money. He cited several specific
causes including a marching band of "problem children"
being mentored by Tyrone "Fly Ty" Williams
of Cold Chillin’ Records fame. "We are going
to get back out there and start supporting our community.
This is what’s needed," Kurtis said. "And
we need our people to come out and support us."
