Hip-Hop Can Save America The Center for Hip-Hop Advocacy / Manny Faces Media

Introducing, Hip-Hop Can Save America! Mini-Episodes!
Full-length, in in-depth interviews with individuals and organizations using Hip-Hop music and culture to uplift humanity are super important, and I'm honored to be able to do them. I have a bunch more on the way, but in the meantime, there are so many examples of innovative and inspiring events, news items, discussions, calls for papers, and all kinds of information that I think followers of this show would love to hear about, so I'm kicking off Mini-Eps to do just that. They'll also be available as videos on my social media platforms as well, to make sure the most people possible can find out about these Hip-Hop treats.
Follow me on Twitter www.twitter.com/MannyFaces and our org at www.twitter.com/HipHopAdvocacy and tell us what YOU'D like to hear more about when it comes to innovative uses of Hip-Hop, and let me know what you think about these more frequent, information-packed mini-episodes. Thanks for your time and support!

On this episode of Hip-Hop Can Save America… Dr. Lauren Kelly teaches teachers how to teach using Hip-Hop -- We speak about why it works, and some things to watch out for. Plus, info on a brilliant, student-led Hip-Hop academic conference coming soon.
A lot of our episodes delve into the wide world of hip-hop education. I’ve seen so many examples of how hip-hop music, culture, spirit, and perspective can lift up our young people in educational settings, so I will definitely continue to sing the praises of hip-hop based education.
Recently, however, a journal article caught my eye, titled, “When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong: Enacting Critical Pedagogies of Hip-Hop in Mainstream Schools.” It was written by Dr. Don C. Sawyer III of Quinnipiac University and Dr. Lauren Leigh Kelly, Assistant Professor in the Urban Social Justice Teacher Education program at Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Education. I’ve known Dr. Kelly for a minute, and thought her contribution to the article represents a very important facet of Hip-hop based education. Sometimes, we focus so much on the victories, we don’t pay enough attention to when keeping it real, goes wrong, and if we are truly looking for long-term, effective ways to advocate for hip-hop in schools, it’s equally important to pay attention to how we can make these interactions the best they can be.
I wanted to know more, and Lauren graciously agreed to come on the show to discuss it in a bit more detail. We also spoke about the incredible Hip-Hop Youth Research and Activism Conference, a student-led event that she founded, which will host its next iteration this May.
Here’s my talk with Dr. Lauren Leigh Kelly.

Ben Merlis isn’t a Hip-Hop historian by nature, but he has had his feet in the music business for decades, and since his early days, has been a superfan of rap music, with a particular affinity to the iconic artist collective that emerged from Queensbridge, New York in the late 1980s -- the Juice Crew. Led by the late pioneering radio jock Mr. Magic and amplified into Hip-Hop canon by DJ & producer Marley Marl, this trailblazing crew - which consisted of household rap names like Roxanne Shante, Kool G Rap, Biz Markie, Big Daddy Kane and more -- helped put the gold into rap’s Golden Era. While not as commercially successful as other well-known rap labels like Def Jam or Tommy Boy, the Cold Chillin’ imprint was arguably as influential as any in exploding the popularity of the genre.
Ben Merlis saw that the story of this legacy was worthy of proper documentation, and has woven together a fascinating look at the inner workings of these game changers in his new book Goin’ Off: The Story of the Juice Crew & Cold Chillin’ Records.
Under the occasional rumble of a passing subway train, I spoke with Ben at the Powerhouse Arena bookstore in Brooklyn, New York just before an author talkback session with the public that also featured Juice Crew members Masta Ace and Craig G.
Here’s my conversation with Ben Merlis.

A renowned "hip-hop diplomacy" program called Next Level, run by the United States State Department, sends groups of hip-hop teaching artists to places throughout the world as cultural ambassadors. The program is designed to bridge cultural divides, facilitate understanding, and express and heal trauma, all through hip-hop music and culture. On this episode, we hear from its founder, author and professor, Mark Katz.

Jarritt Sheel is an assistant professor of music education at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. He is also a fifth-year doctoral candidate at Teachers College, Columbia University in the Music and Music Education Department. He is a professional musician who has toured the world and led youth ensembles in places like Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. He’s particularly interested in how hip-hop music, culture, and pedagogies should be applied in music education and teacher training. Jarritt co-founded the music resource website www.hiphopmusiced.com and is leader of the social media dialogue, #hiphopmusiced.
Hip-Hop Can Save America! is brought to you by The Center for Hip-Hop Advocacy and is produced by Manny Faces Media.

On this episode, I'm speaking with Richard Achee. Richard works in Strategic Partnerships at Google, and through Google’s Code Next initiative and a partnership with Rapport Studios, created an initiative called Python MC that uses hip-hop music to teach young people the basics of computer coding. I’ve seen it action several times now, and it’s one of my favorite examples of the intersection between hip-hop and tech.
For more about Python MC, visit pythonmc.trinket.io. Also, Rapport Studios creates #engaging & #immersive #learningexperiences harnessing the power of #tech, #media, & #pedagogy to scale empathy & inspire humanity. Visit them at www.rapportstudios.com
Hip-Hop Can Save America! is brought to you by The Center for Hip-Hop Advocacy, dedicated to PRESERVING, PROTECTING, AND PROMOTING THE ABILITY OF HIP-HOP MUSIC, CULTURE, AND SPIRIT TO IMPROVE HUMANITY, FIGHT INJUSTICE, INNOVATE INDUSTRIES, AND SAVE LIVES.
If you have a product, service, or story you want to get out to a rapidly growing audience of people like you, you can sponsor this podcast. We also accept tax-deductible donations to help make these podcasts and our other work possible. Visit www.hiphopadvocacy.org to learn more, contact us, or contribute.
The show is produced by Manny Faces through the award-winning podcast and audio journalism production studio, Manny Faces Media, producers of acclaimed social justice journalism podcast News Beat, as well as several other shows from across the worlds of business, marketing, culture, and more. Visit us at www.mannyfacesmedia.com