Sebastien (Seb): In ’81, I was 9 years old.  When you’re that young, anything that stands out of the norm is exciting.  My first exposure to Hip Hop was watching my neighbors B-boyin’, rapping, and dressing fresh.  That made an impact on me.  I tried my hand at B-boyin’ and poppin’ but it wasn’t until I heard “The Message” by Melle Mel, Grandmaster Flash, and the Furious 5, that Hip Hop really HIT me!  That’s when I realized I had a place in Hip Hop!  Learning about the Zulu Nation and the culture as a whole really made me want to be part of the movement.  It’s that communal feeling, the sense of being part of something that felt special.  That sense of community is definitely missing today unless you’re dealing with older Hip Hop heads.  The younger generation doesn’t look at Hip Hop as a culture.  For them, it’s just a style of music, or a product even, which doesn’t require them to identify with it from a visceral standpoint like we used to.  Thankfully, the underground scene, here and abroad, keeps the essence of the culture fresh and exciting.

Seb: I’ve been what you can call “socially conscious” since high school.  I started rhyming to convey a message through my lyrics.  As idealistic as it may sound, everything I’ve done since has been with the goal of bringing something positive to the world.  Whether it was working at record companies with the purpose of promoting more conscious artists or hosting a radio show to play the type of Hip Hop that doesn’t usually get exposure, my intent has remained the same.  As an artist, I once had the opportunity to sign a deal, but turned it down when my artistic integrity was under attack.  The money is important but not enough to sell out!

Seb: Actually, the Hip Hop nation I grew up with is where I learned most of these things!  The spark for knowledge was lit by my parents, but the early days of Hip Hop provided the right conditions to nourish that hunger.  It starts with seeing how the Zulu Nation incorporated the things I was already fascinated by into Hip Hop culture.  So in my mind, history, politics, religion, metaphysics, etc…it all has to do with Hip Hop.  I will go as far as saying that those who call themselves “Hip Hop” and don’t have an affinity for knowledge are not actually members of what we may describe as the Hip Hop nation. They are simply rap music fans.  There is a difference!

Seb: The most common stereotype is that all rap music is about girls, cars, sex, etc. Another misconception is that all rappers are rich.  Also, young people have a hard time understanding why Hip Hop is even called a culture.  They see it as music and little more, not even aware of the influence, albeit superficial for them, that it has on their lifestyle.  The only way to correct these misconceptions is to teach that about the culture, its history, and expose them to real Hip Hop music, old and new.

Seb: I’ve been using Hip Hop as an educational tool for many years so I know for a fact that Hip Hop is indeed a force for positive social change.  The garbage that the mainstream has promoted for years has heavily affected young people’s minds, but it isn’t irreversible.  I’m living proof.  I’ve seen kids change their entire mind state because of what they’ve learned through Hip Hop education.  Does it change 100% of the youth who receive this type of education?  Of course not.  But it is much more effective than what traditional education has achieved.

Seb:  Hip Hop was born out of the same conditions that so many young people come from, literally and figuratively. They may not be aware of it because they focus on the direct connection they have with it which is the music.  But at its core, there’s a realness they relate to.  There’s an underlying element that resonates with them.  They know that their world is full of hypocrisy.  Politics, the school system, media, lie to them all the time and they feel it, even if they can’t quite put their fingers on it.  Hip Hop is the voice that talks to them in a genuine manner.  Using that voice as an educator allows you to keep their ears and eyes open because they know you’re not part of the mainstream voice that’s been selling them empty promises after empty promises.  From a practical standpoint, Hip Hop is such a rich culture that its many elements can be used to teach pretty much anything under the sun: history, current events, social issues, life skills, politics, economics, entrepreneurship, language arts, math, poetry, music appreciation, and the list goes on.  

Seb: I simply related to the youth I was working with in a manner and language they connected with.  The simple fact that I was being myself, a Hip Hop head to the core, was enough to reach them effectively.  I wasn’t using any special “Hip Hop” methods.  I was just being me!  

Seb: I founded the Urban Youth Empowerment Foundation to place my Hip Hop program under an umbrella that the school system wouldn’t be afraid of working with.  It’s hard to bring a Hip Hop program to a school when administrators are scared of the term “Hip Hop”.  The name “Urban Youth Empowerment Foundation” sounds a lot more respectable to them! However, I no longer use that name.  I use the actual name which is The Global Awareness through Hip Hop Culture program.

Seb: I was brought in through unusual circumstances.  I had been facilitating Hip Hop education workshops at various schools throughout L.A.  As a result, I acquired a reputation and began to speak about Hip Hop education at various events and conferences.  Consequently, I was hired to work with the Kanye West Foundation, which was in the process of developing a Hip Hop curriculum.  This partnership opened many doors and allowed me to eventually bring in my own program to the Los Angeles school system.

Seb: We focus on the history of Hip Hop culture from its inception to present day.  However, I start the year with the Civil Rights Movement in order to help students understand the sociopolitical climate that gave birth to Hip Hop. The course focuses on using all elements of Hip Hop as a medium to teach students life skills, self exploration, health, social studies, politics, media literacy, etc…Of course, the artistic aspect is emphasized as many of the lessons are taught through songwriting, performances, drama, as well as other creative activities.  The true purpose of the program is to help students develop their global awareness in order to find their place in the world.

Seb: My partner Mecca has been there since the beginning to represent women’s perspective.  She isn’t a full time teacher but has stepped in consistently to educate youth on women’s issues.  Of course, the program itself is well balanced and includes various lessons on misogyny, sexism, and gender issues.  As well, most of our supporters and guest speakers throughout the years have been women such as MC Lyte and underground Hip Hop legend Medusa.  This program wouldn’t exist without the support of women who have stepped up in front of the classroom or behind the scenes.

Seb: The objectification of women has been around for centuries.  It’s bigger than Hip Hop.  Hip Hop just reflects the problem that exists in general society.  Does rap music contribute to the problem at times?  Of course it does.  The only thing that responsible members of the Hip Hop nation can do is explore their own sexism, work towards shedding their own biases, and teach the youth to do the same.  We’re all victims of this problem.  In order for artists and consumers to improve the standing of women in Hip Hop, it’s going to require that society in general changes its views.  It’s going to require that corporations and advertisers stop using sex to sell their products.  It’s going to require that most major institutions around the world begin creating a balanced climate where all genders are treated with respect.  This isn’t going to happen anytime soon!  So as well intentioned Hip Hop heads, all we can do is educate as many people as we can through the means available to us, and hope for the best.  That’s what I do and it’s been working for me.

Seb: Many programs exist but go virtually unnoticed because they’re very “grassroots” and operate on small budgets that don’t allow them to make a name for themselves.  If influential and powerful people in Hip Hop don’t  know you exist, they can’t be blamed for not being involved in such programs.  On the flip side, some of these “powerful” people want to get involved if they have something to gain from it, be it publicity or otherwise.  Most small programs have nothing to offer these people in return for their support except for the feeling of spiritual fulfillment it may provide. The day that “powerful” people are satisfied with simply being spiritually fulfilled will be the day that the entire planet changes!  The only practical thing to do is to keep reaching out to key people until the right person comes along.  It’s not impossible.  There are good people out there but it takes a lot of work to make the connections.  In the meantime, the work that we do changes lives and all we can do is be thankful for that.