Senator Recognizes November As Hip-Hop History Month

Senator Pedro Espada Jr. of the 32nd Senate District, in the State of New York, recognizes November as the Official Hip Hop History month. Hip Hop culture is defined as a movement which is expressed through various artistic mediums which are called "elements." The main elements are known as emcee’ing (also known as rapping), DJ’ing, […]

Senator Pedro Espada Jr. of the 32nd Senate District,

in the State of New York, recognizes November as the Official Hip Hop History

month.

Hip Hop culture is defined as a movement which

is expressed through various artistic mediums which are called "elements."

The main elements are known as emcee’ing (also known as rapping), DJ’ing, writing

(aerosol art), several

dance forms (which include breaking, up-rocking, popping, and locking) and the

element which holds the rest together: KNOWLEDGE. There are also other elements

such as vocal percussion, also known as beat boxing, fashion, etc. For clarity,

when I refer to “Hip Hop” in the following proclamation, I am referring

to the culture of Hip Hop in it’s entirety, as just described, and not

only to rapping.

That having been said, Senator Pedro Espada Jr.

officially recognizes November as Hip Hop History month. We would like to thank

the godfather of Hip Hop culture, Afrika Bambaataa and the Universal Zulu Nation,

the world’s oldest, largest and most respected grass roots Hip Hop organization,

for their commitment to using Hip Hop culture as positive tool for social change

and for keeping Hip Hop culture, in it’s most positive forms alive throughout

the past 3 decades.

Since the inception of Hip Hop culture in the

Bronx, during the early 1970’s, it has been a vehicle for breaking down

racial barriers on a world wide level as well as a means for teaching awareness,

knowledge, wisdom, understanding, freedom, justice, equality, peace, unity,

love, respect, responsibility, recreation, overcoming challenges, economics,

mathematics, science, life, truth, facts and faith.

In the 70’s, ten years prior to its gaining global

recognition, Hip Hop was a celebration of life gradually developing each of

its elements to form a cultural movement. As a result of its dynamic energy

and momentum, Hip Hop

culture, once dismissed as “just a fad,” has become, ultimately, a

key to upliftment and reformation, and the element of Hip Hop has become a billion-dollar

industry. Hip Hop culture has greatly influenced the entertainment world with

its creative contributions in music, dance, art, poetry, and fashion. Hip Hop

is the vehicle to deliver innumerable lessons!

Due to the contributions of the pioneers forefathers,

Kool DJ Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, and Grandmaster Flash as well as the many Hip

Hop legends, youth throughout the world have found means of supporting themselves,

through the

Hip Hop artforms and have a means of making a positive difference in this world.

People throughout the world participate in Hip Hop Culture.

Why November for Hip Hop History Month? November

is significant in the fact that it kicks off the "indoor jam season."

The Hip Hop community jams or parties, enjoyed outdoors in the parks, throughout

the Summer, had to move indoors for about 7 months to community centers, gymnasiums,

schools, etc., for the Fall and Winter seasons. The state of New York recognizes

this month and pays tribute to those who laid the foundation and paved the way

as well as to those who continue to preserve the rich tradition of the culture.

Afrika Bambaattaa, the first Hip Hop activist,

explained to me, that “Hip Hop was created be about peace, love, unity

and having fun in order to help people to get away from the negativity that

was plaguing our streets (gang

violence, drug abuse, self hate, violence among those of African and Latino

descent). Even though this negativity still exists, as the culture progresses,

we play a big role in conflict resolution and encouraging

positivity."