Old School Scholar

Last night I came across some video footage recorded in 1986 at the dawn of the Golden Age of Hip Hop. What you are about to view are documented interviews from a Dutch televison reporter, Marcel Vanthilt. During this era, Hip Hop culture was making leaps in bounds in Europe as it was in North America. The intrigue in these interviews is quite evident why our culture burst into an international phenomenan. To this very day, Hip Hop Culture is not just fully embraced in Europe, but also in Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, and the Middle East. Where ever there is a creative soul to be liberated on this planet, there is Hip Hop.

When Hip Hop thrived in the late 80’s, everything at that time seemed to be good. The art form was loved, appreciated and most importantly getting respected. I’m not so sure about you, but in my opinion, something always seems to be left out or left behind or even left alone. The DJs were bringing it, the Emcees were flowing it, the B-Boys were rocking it and the Graffiti Artists were…

Before I start I must first say this, I came from the land where the English language originated, the United Kingdom. It is the first language there, and it is taught with discipline. When I was 14, by the love of my Parents, we migrated to the United States where I soon discovered that the [...]

I love Hip Hop. I love everything about what makes it so profound in my life and how I am always a part of it. It is a culture born from above average people whom ingeniously created to make a better aesthetic life out of limited resources. It is revolutionary. It never asked for permission to be seen or heard while inspiring the uninspired, and it neither apologized for its liberty being felt.

What is Hip Hop? There are a lot of different answers, depending on who you ask. Before I give my definition, let me start with what isn’t Hip Hop: Gangstas, Pimps, Hustlers, Drug Dealers. Basically, all the negative stigmas of urban life glorified in today’s rap music. It’s downright insulting to call the rap (or crap) music of the last few years Hip Hop. The early foundations of Hip Hop culture were built on the desire to escape the dreary existence of street life.