Mansfield, OH – Forget Mother Goose and nursery rhymes, preschoolers at Madison Early Childhood Learning Center are taking learning to the next level. On Thursday, Brian Holland, a first-grade teacher at Pickerington Local Schools, brought “Hip-Hop-ademics” to the Bahl Avenue school, using rap music to get students on their feet.

Through his fun lyrics and energetic dance moves, Holland was able to incorporate preschool state standards into his program. (more…)

Whenever Victor Arzu approaches the corner of East 169th Street and Franklin Avenue in his grandmother’s neighborhood, Morrisania, in the South Bronx, he usually takes a moment to check out some posters on a wall depicting the hip-hop artist Grandmaster Flash.

Right underneath the image, in stencil-like lettering, the poster tells him: “Grandmaster Flash played the records they clapped for/ back when the dancefloor was packed at the Black Door.” (more…)

The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services has issued a report that lists 58% of all female homicide victims are at the hands of domestic violence. With the rate of abuse increasing in the United States, victim and female hip hop rap artist Queen Pen is taking a stand for battered women and asking the NYC community and leaders for support and change at a press conference Friday, January 16th.

The press conference will be lead by Hip Hop artist Queen Pen, NY Senator Eric Adams, and hip hop rap MC Persia (Vh1′s White Rapper Show), at the Denim Lounge (1223 Bedford Ave) in Brooklyn at 4pm. (more…)

Tumwater, WA – Derrick Brown, a sophomore at South Sound High School, said the hip-hop music he created and performed used to be about “gangs and drugs and stuff.” But Brown, who took part last week in a music workshop to create a performing group and CD focused on making good choices, said his own current experiences in substance-abuse recovery already has become of part of the music he creates.

He said that the True North Music Mentors program was a natural fit for him. “I’ve been changing my style and what I write about,” Brown said. “I feel like this program can spread that message.” Several dozen students from high schools in Olympia, North Thurston and Tumwater districts collaborated on hip-hop tracks in a music academy last week. (more…)

San Francisco, CA – Fleetwood talks fast. Words pour out of him like water from a fire hose. As he stalks down Tenderloin streets, people standing in doorways nod their greetings. “Hey, nephew,” he says, almost invariably. “I’ve known these Cambodian boys since they were little,” he says, walking by a group of young men loitering near a street corner. “I try not to be here when it’s dark, though. I’ve got to remember: I’m an ex-dope dealer, an ex-dope fiend and an ex-convict.”

Fleetwood, 45, grew up on these streets. “This is where my story is,” he says, striding down the street, looking good behind his wraparound shades. He is a short man wearing a gray hoodie sweatshirt so large it threatens to engulf him. “This is my home. But I’m vulnerable here, too, so I have to be careful. I had some wild times down here. The Tenderloin is a dangerous place.” (more…)

Hialeah Gardens, FL – Some South Florida children will not have to go without this holiday season thanks to a toy drive which is taking place Friday morning. Hip Hop superstar Pitbull, along with his foundation Imaginate, has teamed up with Power 96, and the Florida Marlins to help make the season bright for kids in need at a toy drive in Hialeah Gardens.

Pitbull has donated $5,000 worth of toys and is personally collecting new, unwrapped toys at the Wal-Mart in Hialeah Gardens. He’s also signing autographs for fans who donate toys at the toy drive. The overall goal for the toy drive is to supply 1,000 kids with toys this holiday season. All of the toys will be donated to the Amigos for Kids Foundation. (more…)

In 2004, Barack Obama arrived in Boston as a freshman senator from Illinois to give the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention. Tomorrow, three of the city’s biggest hip-hop representatives hope to usher in his presidency. Edo G, Slaine and Akrobatik will take the stage at the Middle East with beats, rhymes and hope for an Obama victory at an Election Day concert tomorrow night.

“No politician in my lifetime ever inspired me as much as Obama,” said South Boston native Slaine – one-third of Boston rhyme squad Special Teamz, which also includes Edo G. “He’s our generation’s JFK or Bobby Kennedy. He’s a culmination of Martin Luther King and all these things that have been shut out of politics.” (more…)

Pittsburg, CA – Overcast skies and the occasional burst of raindrops may not be ideal conditions for a carwash, but that didn’t matter much to Kyle Iniguez of Antioch. He was just happy to be out of the house. Iniguez, 16, is under house arrest for the latest in a series of missteps, which includes grand theft auto, possession of cocaine with intention to sell, robbery, and being drunk in public. During the week, he is only allowed out of the house to go to school.

According to news sources, on Saturday, he was “in heaven” serving community service hours at the Hip-Hop Car Wash in Pittsburg. Iniguez didn’t even mind when it started to rain. “The program is hella cool,” he said. “It beats being cramped up at home or picking up trash on the side of the road.” (more…)

You can’t be serious!!!! This week in Ohio, which is my home state, a redneck judge ordered a kid to listen to 20 hours of Beethoven for playing rap music too loudly in his car. LOL – the kid decided instead to pay the fine. Check out the news story after the break. (more…)

Washington, D.C. – Although for many youths in the Benning Road area, hip-hop is the soundtrack of their lives, the Urban Arts Academy aims to transcend the familiar beats and rhymes and use hip-hop as a catalyst to change lives. “Hip-hop is your life,” Goldie Deane, the academy’s director, tells students. “It’s not the only thing in your life, but it’s a resource for many things in your life.”

Hip-hop as a musical genre is generally defined as vocalization over mixed music and beats. But hip-hop also describes a culture that branches out to include rapping, DJ skills, art, fashion and break dancing. It’s a collaborative culture that evolves as new generations add their interpretations to the lifestyle and the music, which is said to have had its roots in the Bronx. (more…)