Teaching Kids Through Hip Hop

Teachers blame hip hop for contributing to the bad grammar students use. Now there is a program using hip hop to improve student's grammar and beyond.

Hip-Hop as an Educational Literacy Program (H.E.L.P.) is a literacy initiative that allows students to read hip hop songs and then complete literacy-based activities from the songs. Each activity is aligned with the school's standard of learning, and reinforces the teacher's instruction.

"H.E.L.P. stems from a writing and performance poetry workshop concept started in 1999 called Project NOMMO. In 2005, I presented NOMMO to Rick Herring, a 30 year teacher and owner of Rock Creek Academy in Washington, D.C. Consequently, he had developed a program similar to HELP 20 years earlier using TV scripts. We merged ideas creating a partnership called Educational Lyrics, LLC and the blueprint for H.E.L.P. In 2006, Rick and I piloted the program in special education classes at Rock Creek," acknowledged the program's founder Educator/Hip Hop Artist Gabriel Benn.

Benn, known as Asheru, wrote the theme song for the TV show "The Boondocks" and released an album called "Insomnia Vol. 1: Sleepless in Japan." Benn taught for 10 years and is now the Director of Arts-in-Education and Transition Services at Rock Creek Academy.

H.E.L.P. has impressed artists like Luke Campbell, from "2 Live Crew," who has worked with kids through his football league for 17 years. "I always thought that would be a good idea to get kids to learn through music. I'm glad someone is doing it; it's needed," said Luke.

Some of the lyrics are from Nas, Ghostface, and Common to name a few. "I use hip hop lyrics in the way that teachers use a book or other literature. We explore themes, analyze, and deconstruct songs," stated Salina Gray, fourth-grade teacher in Los Angeles.

Hip hop in education is growing, according to a 2004 Harvard University study, about 75 hip hop courses are taught in U.S. universities.

H.E.L.P. has been used in GED and ESOL programs at Benn's school with plans to expand in Maryland, New York, Atlanta and five DC-area schools.
For information visit: www.edlyrics.com or www.asheru.com.