Spin Head of the Class: University of Hip-Hop

While one teacher coaxed a student on how to hold her stomach when she stood on her head, I watched another teacher break dancing around a circle of students. Hip-hop music blasted in the background and the students lingered around after class was over. Some weren't even there for the ten-week sessions. They were there just for fun. I showed up late for class and was disappointed that the whole session couldn't be rewound.

At the University of Hip-Hop, that's just how much fun it is. A high school teacher, Raven, started this program in 1997, along with a youth activist group called Generation Y. People were asking for a school of the arts to teach the four elements of hip-hop: break dancing, emceeing, deejaying, and graffiti. Their request was given when on the Southside corner of 64th & Kedzie in Chicago, the building where this university would be organized was spray-painted and born. The university even dabbled in an outdoor activities session. Who doesn't like to go outside for class? The students and teachers also traveled to California and New York as well as to Native American reservations to connect with a group called Youth Struggling for Survival.

"Hip-Hop means Helping Independent People Help Other People," says Hekter, one of the teachers. He goes on to explain how art galleries as well as break dancing commence in the building. But it's not just fun and games. Hekter is obviously a political activist that makes sure his students know about the lesser-known, but just as important, worldwide news. He does it in his own way that most teachers won't use: graffiti.

"We want our students to know what's going on without lecturing them for a half hour." Many people don't agree with the use of graffiti and some have even gone so far as to send hate mail to graffiti artists over the years. But the stories need to be told and, borrowing Malcolm X's words, I believe they should be told by any means necessary.

Hekter would like to see the University of Hip-Hop become an alternative school. His co-worker Cindy agrees.
"When kids are at home and their parents are working, they have nothing to do. Many turn to the streets to try to find another family and this leads to gangs, violence, and alcohol. I was involved in gangs. I grew up in a community where it was all gangs. There were no youth centers and no parks around the neighborhood. When kids come here, they have something positive to do. Dancing is healthy. Graffiti is a form of art. Emceeing is an alternative to fighting," Cindy explains.

But don't words hurt?

Cindy says "Let's say I got beef with somebody. By the time I finish break dancing, I'm too tired to fight. Emceeing helps me get all my anger out without violence. Graffiti tells my emotions for me. (Hip-Hop) is a lot of energy, but it's neutral."

While Cindy specializes in art, Hekter specializes in politics, one of the other teachers, Isela, specializes in social consciousness and economics. Speaking of economics, this university is a non-profit organization. Free of charge!
Isela shifts uncomfortably before saying, "I wasn't encouraged to come because hip-hop and graffiti were considered for guys. But, I've been break dancing since I was 14 or 15 years old."

This attitude towards women in hip-hop brought on the women's chapter, Synergy. All ethnicities attend these sessions as well. Another goal that the University is working towards is encouraging teachers to incorporate hip-hop into their teaching, with teacher conferences.

"Kids are interested, it'll get them away from gangs, violence and drugs, and schools already cut funding for art, music, and (extracurricular) activities. Students are becoming obese and break-dancing is healthy. It's an interpretive dance. Emceeing is like poetry in motion. Hip-Hop is being who you are and not letting anybody judge you," Cindy explains, waving her arm like lyricists have a habit of doing.

Break dancing groups like T&A, Brickheadz, DJ Noble and Louis, a 15-year-old rumored to be the best break dancer in Chicago, are also active in this school of the arts. The building where classes take place has only been around for eleven years and the graffiti designs, obvious from a block away, are from artists named Static, Zore and Hieroglyphs.

Hip-Hop may have started in the Bronx, NY, but seeing it grow worldwide has opened so many peoples' eyes, fans or not.
"Hip-Hop is utilized to keep balance at a minimum and inspiration at a (maximum)," Cindy says, smiling.
I don't know about y'all, but every time I pop in a cd or write one of these articles, I maximize the moment.