HIP HOP HIP HOP EDUCATION EDUCATION 2019-2020 2019-2020 IMPACT IMPACT REPORT REPORT WELCOME TO HIP HOP EDUCATION WELCOME TO HIP HOP EDUCATION WHY HIP HOP EDUCATION? WHY HIP HOP EDUCATION? WHAT WE AIM TO ACHIEVE WHAT WE AIM TO ACHIEVE PROJECTS + PROGRAMS PROJECTS + PROGRAMS OUR IMPACT OUR IMPACT LOOKING FORWARD LOOKING FORWARD OUR PARTNERS OUR PARTNERS CONTACT US CONTACT US 6 6 8 8 10 10 13 13 29 29 30 30 32 32 33 33 CONTENTS CONTENTS The story of Hip Hop started writing itself long before the Hart House Integrated Learning and Community Engagement team started programming with it in mind. As the recent Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones chronicles in her brilliant essay for the New York Times’s 1619 Project, Hip Hop is a continuum of the creative and inventive ways the African diaspora has evolved since slavery. A call and response towards a desire for self-knowledge and a unique freedom of expression situated in --but not the same as-- the tradition of the African griot, “the drum of our music echoes Africa but is not African” In many ways large and small, we hope to add to this story by leveraging our co-curricular platform to help excavate the ways in which Hip Hop culture tells a unique story of resistance in the post-colonial world of the 21st century. We believe that a critical role of Hip Hop is as a cypher for counter narratives and decolonization. It is this position that allows us to hear from people all over the diaspora and beyond. We submit our voices to that exploration, social consciousness, celebration, and community building, and hope to learn along the way from its practitioners, artists, writers, and cultural producers. Over the last several years, we began to develop intentional programming that embedded voices representing Hip Hop culture not only in performative spaces, but more importantly into our public conversations, dialogue-based events, and artistic practices. This has been one of the key ways we have been able to engage in a rich dialogue around Black and Indigenous futurisms and identities, while initiating social change through knowledge and shifts in perspectives. We are learning as we go and building as we grow our programs and our practices. The following Year 1 Report captures our attempt to connect Hip Hop storytellers and a growing scholarship to students for a deeper understanding of the impact that Hip Hop has had on their lives, and their ways of knowing and being, in this world. This story isn’t over. Zoë Dille Program Co-Lead Jessica Rayne Program Co-Lead Marco Adamovic Coordinator “ “When the world listens to quintessential When the world listens to quintessential American music, it is our voice they hear. American music, it is our voice they hear. The sorrow songs we sang in the fields The sorrow songs we sang in the fields to soothe our physical pain and find hope to soothe our physical pain and find hope in a freedom we did not expect to know in a freedom we did not expect to know until we died became American gospel. until we died became American gospel. Amid the devastating violence and pov- Amid the devastating violence and pov- erty of the Mississippi Delta, we birthed erty of the Mississippi Delta, we birthed jazz and blues. And it was in the deeply jazz and blues. And it was in the deeply impoverished and segregated neighbor- impoverished and segregated neighbor- hoods where white Americans forced the hoods where white Americans forced the descendants of the enslaved to live that descendants of the enslaved to live that teenagers too poor to buy instruments teenagers too poor to buy instruments used old records to create a new music used old records to create a new music known as Hip Hop.” known as Hip Hop.” Nikole Hannah-Jones Nikole Hannah-Jones Author, Journalist Author, Journalist Pulitzer Prize Winner Pulitzer Prize Winner WELCOME WELCOME TO HIP HOP TO HIP HOP EDUCATION EDUCATION 6 6 Hip Hop is about so much more than just rap music. It’s a unique cultural expression steeped in self-empowerment, artistic expression, holistic learning, and social activism. All this comes together through a matrix of music, dance, visual art, language, fashion, and knowledge, of which we call Hip Hop. Working with our U of T campus partners and the greater Hip Hop community, our programs support the values of representation, collaboration and social justice as we explore the key principles of Hip-Hop and its importance in everyday life. WE ENGAGE WITH HIP HOP WE ENGAGE WITH HIP HOP AS BOTH A PEDAGOGY AS BOTH A PEDAGOGY AND A CULTURE TO AND A CULTURE TO AMPLIFY AND AMPLIFY AND LEARN FROM THE LEARN FROM THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF LIVED EXPERIENCES OF OUR STUDENTS OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES “Education is not memorization. It is the activation of the imagination and a path towards liberation“ DR. CHRISTOPHER EMDIN PhD, Columbia University Creator of the #HipHopEd #HipHopEd social media movement WHY WHY HIP HOP HIP HOP EDUCATION? EDUCATION? Hip Hop education matters because it represents a powerful way to feel connect- ed to ourselves and the people around us. Community, creativi- ty, self-expression, and learn- ing are all integral parts of Hip Hop’s DNA. These pillars complement and expand on the existing goals of Hart House. We strive to enrich the lives of our students through the creative engagement with arts, culture, dialogue, recreation, wellness, and community-engaged learning. At Hart House, students encounter an inclusive and diverse space where they can enrich their souls, expand their minds, and strength- en their bodies. All of which takes place through a framework dedicated to equity, social justice, and wellness. WE WORK TO CREATE SPACES WHERE WE WORK TO CREATE SPACES WHERE STUDENTS CAN LEARN, EXPERIENCE STUDENTS CAN LEARN, EXPERIENCE AND FIND COMMUNITY IN HIP HOP AND FIND COMMUNITY IN HIP HOP CULTURE. CULTURE. 8 8 “Hip Hop is a culture that has thrived and spread globally despite limited resources and governing institutions. In a world experiencing an unprece- dented speed of change, creativity and innovation are needed now more than ever, and modelling Hip Hop pedagogy could be the key to pushing our society forward. Hip Hop culture has survived by adapting to new cultures quickly and by valuing “freshness” and new ideas. We too need to accept the new world quickly or be left behind. We need to be more Hip Hop.” GLEN REYES GLEN REYES H4 Community Founder, Youth Mentor WELCOME TO HIP HOP ED WELCOME TO HIP HOP ED WHAT WHAT WE AIM TO WE AIM TO ACHIEVE ACHIEVE Hip Hop is a collaborative culture. Our programming encourages interactions with artists, scholars, and community leaders outside the normalized University sphere; allowing for unique learning experiences not normally found in the classroom. We aim to showcase Hip Hop culture in plac- es it’s never existed before ; evolving to connect with students and the community in new ways that matter to them. This is constantly done through a framework of equity and inclusion based programs, By bringing together students and the greater Hip Hop community, we are encour- aging everyone to use Hip Hop as a vehicle to feel connected and supported. We hope to spark involvement, and thus the development of community, through our programming. ENCOURAGE HOLISTIC LEARNING BREAK DOWN CULTURAL BARRIERS ON CAMPUS BUILD CONNECTION & BELONGING 10 10 “Knowledge has always been a part of Hip Hop. it’s been crucial to the culture. R eading, writing, researching ... that’s Hip Hop, too” DR. MURRAY FORMAN PhD, Northeastern University Nasir Jones Hip Hop Fellowship recipient, Harvard University WELCOME TO HIP HOP ED WELCOME TO HIP HOP ED PROJECTS PROJECTS + + PROGRAMS PROGRAMS 14 14 PROJECTS PROJECTS + + PROGRAMS PROGRAMS Hip Hop 101 Café is a space created for students and community to come together and explore our identities and social realities through Hip Hop culture. Hip Hop 101 Café’s are student and artist-led conversations t hat leave our participants with a deeper appreciation of shared community, and a greater understanding of how Hip Hop culture continues to influence our world. HIP HOP HIP HOP 101 101 CAF CAFÉ É YOUTH YOUTH + + COMMUNITY COMMUNITY OUTREACH OUTREACH In addition to undergraduate and graduate focused programming, Hart House also cultivates relation- ships with local high schools and community orga- nizations. By providing accessible and curated opportunities to engage in unique Hip Hop-centered programming, we hope to create an environment where Indige- nous, racialized, and LGBTQ youth can see them- selves in the traditionally exclusive space of Hart House and the wider university as a whole. Humanz of Hip Hop is a specially cu- rated Human Library that brings to light the relationship between Hip Hop and the world we live in. The Human Library Project is an event designed to create dialogue, promote understanding, and reduce prejudice. A wide range of Hip Hop community members are invited to share their stories as “human books”. Facili- tated by Hart House staff, attendees “borrow” the human story for up to 25 minutes for an open conversation. HUMANZ OF HUMANZ OF HIP HOP HIP HOP 18 18 PROJECTS PROJECTS + + PROGRAMS PROGRAMS Producers’ Circle acts as a songwriter’s circle, but is specifically geared towards beatmakers, electronic producers, and other traditional musi- cians who wish to share and craft their skills in music production. The space acts as platform for music lovers and music creators to come togeth- er and collaborate, build friendships, and grow a community. Its main goal is to create a supportive music production community of practice, dedicated to creative expression and artistic development, and to be an inclusive environment for music produc- ers of all levels or anyone interested in music production. Skool of Beatz DJ program is a unique opportunity to explore the history and evolution of Hip Hop DJ culture. Not only do students learn of the social and cultural conditions which lead to the birth of Hip Hop DJing, they also gain the hands- on technical skills to play live for a crowd. Classes start with the original fundamentals, mixing with two turntables and vinyl records. From there, we transition to utilizing the most current digital DJ controllers and modern beats. Professional Hip Hop DJs and Music Producers lead a customized program for students to learn, de- velop, and hone their turntable skills. Partici- pants will be transformed from a passive listener into a more intuitive, engaged artist. SKOOL OF SKOOL OF BEATZ BEATZ PRODUCERS’ PRODUCERS’ CIRCLE CIRCLE 18 18 Hip Hop has provided me with Hip Hop has provided me with different outlets of expression, different outlets of expression, different ways of thinking about different ways of thinking about music, more confidence, and music, more confidence, and most importantly, a sense of most importantly, a sense of community. community. TINA GONG TINA GONG 2nd Year Undergrad 2nd Year Undergrad University of Toronto University of Toronto President of Unity UTSG, President of Unity UTSG, Co-organizer of Co-organizer of Breaking the Cycle Breaking the Cycle Hip-Hop Event Hip-Hop Event 20 20 PROJECTS PROJECTS + + PROGRAMS PROGRAMS BREATHE BREATHE + + STOP STOP : : HIP-HOP HIP-HOP YOGA YOGA DROP-IN DROP-IN : : HIP HOP HIP HOP DANCE DANCE In collaboration with the U of T Breaking Club, and the UTM Recreation, Athletics, and Wellness Centre, Hart House looks to celebrate our thriv- ing dance communities through accessible Hip Hop dance programs and studio time. Our goals are to create more space for beginners to experience Breakdance and Urban dance culture, and to show some love and respect to dance orga- nizations on campus already dedicated to their craft. Breathe + Stop is a curated yoga and wellness space for students to connect to their breath and bodies set to the backdrop of Hip Hop beats. Hip hop has been a tool of communication for many generations and has served as a tool of expres- sion and validation. Every class we hold space for ourselves and each other as we flow, breathe, and pause in mediation on the power and connectivity of Hip Hop and our world. Hip Hop, particularly its dance stream, Hip Hop, particularly its dance stream, is an avenue of life enrichment and is an avenue of life enrichment and empowerment through the empowerment through the means of movement. means of movement. With a unique blend of qualities, With a unique blend of qualities, participating in Hip Hop dance participating in Hip Hop dance provides a physical and provides a physical and artistic platform that encourages artistic platform that encourages growth and a sense of growth and a sense of community. community. KENNETH TAM KENNETH TAM 4th Year Undergrad 4th Year Undergrad University of Toronto University of Toronto President of President of University of Toronto University of Toronto Breakdance Club Breakdance Club From high fashion to high tops, sneakers have become an integral part of Hip Hop culture and the world at large. For this special, interactive visual art exhibit, we canvassed U of T students, staff, and community members across all three campuses to talk about their personal relation- ship to their kicks. This documentary art exhibit was produced in collaboration with Hart House’s ongoing Talking Walls series, dedicated to sharing the lived experience through audio and visual storytelling. MY MY SNEAKER SNEAKER STORY STORY 120 in. 160 in. Fig 1. My Sneaker Story: Design Blueprint 22 22 PROJECTS PROJECTS + + PROGRAMS PROGRAMS THE EVER EVOLVING ALPHABET THE EVER EVOLVING ALPHABET BY NYLE MIIGIZI JOHNSTON BY NYLE MIIGIZI JOHNSTON Commissioned by Hart House to commemorate our inaugural year of Hip Hop Education programming, this work not only showcases our appreciation for contemporary graffiti art, but also reflects our commitment to celebrating Indigenous artists and storytellers. This mural is a visual representation of Hip Hop using graffiti as the medium. It’s a modern contemporary celebration that mixes artistic concepts with visual cues. Imagery has a long history of portraying messages and narratives for Black and Indigenous people across the globe, and Hip Hop is a beautiful way for these communities to present new genres of art and stay connected to each other. Thousands of years ago, carving on rocks as pictographs and hieroglyphics acted as their own form of graffiti; I want to honour this continuing legacy of storytelling. 24 24 PROJECTS PROJECTS + + PROGRAMS PROGRAMS Nyle Miigizi Johnston Nyle Miigizi Johnston OUR IMPACT OUR IMPACT 845 845 + + PROGRAM PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS PARTICIPANTS REACHED REACHED Percentage of Percentage of programming that programming that touches on touches on related related learning learning topics topics INCLUSION AND INCLUSION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE SOCIAL JUSTICE ENGAGEMENT ENGAGEMENT COMMUNICATION & COMMUNICATION & DIALOGUE SKILLS DIALOGUE SKILLS ARTISTIC & ARTISTIC & CREATIVE CREATIVE EXPRESSION EXPRESSION AND SKILLS AND SKILLS COMMUNITY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ENGAGEMENT 77 77 EVENTS ACROSS EVENTS ACROSS 15 PROGRAMS 15 PROGRAMS PROJECTS PROJECTS + + PROGRAMS PROGRAMS % Self-identifying people of colour % Self-identifying people of colour at different Hip Hop programs at different Hip Hop programs HIP HOP HIP HOP 101 CAFÉ 101 CAFÉ HUMANZ OF HUMANZ OF HIP HOP HIP HOP SKOOL OF SKOOL OF BEATZ BEATZ = = 10% 10% 97% 97% of HIP HOP 101 CAFÉ HIP HOP 101 CAFÉ respondents felt respondents felt the sessions were good good or very good very good 83% 83% of HUMANZ OF HIP HOP respondents agreed or respondents agreed or strongly agreed strongly agreed with the statement: I enjoyed this event and would recommend it to a friend 100% 100% of SKOOL OF BEATZ respondents respondents agreed or agreed or strongly agreed strongly agreed with the statement: I enjoyed participating and would recommend the program to a friend. 79% 79% of HUMANZ OF HIP HOP respondents agreed or respondents agreed or strongly agreed strongly agreed with the statement: I felt that this event was successful in utilizing the Hip-Hop community in promoting acceptance and deepening my understanding of social justice, equi- ty, and diversity 100% 100% of SKOOL OF BEATZ respondents strongly agreed respondents strongly agreed with the statement: I would like to see more Hip Hop Education music-based workshops at the University of Toronto 69% 69% 83% 83% 70% 70% 26 26 28 28 FORWARD FORWARD LOOKING LOOKING “Hip Hop Education matters for “Hip Hop Education matters for a simple reason, but it’s a simple reason, but it’s complicated for some people. complicated for some people. They can’t wrap their minds They can’t wrap their minds around this idea that music, around this idea that music, and an entire culture, that’s as and an entire culture, that’s as rebellious and rambunctious as rebellious and rambunctious as Hip Hop could actually inspire Hip Hop could actually inspire young people, spark their young people, spark their imagination, and motivate them imagination, and motivate them to express themselves. to express themselves. It motivates them to It motivates them to contribute to society. contribute to society. It’s what young people It’s what young people are listening to. are listening to. It’s what young people It’s what young people want and relate to.” want and relate to.” MARTHA DIAZ MARTHA DIAZ M.A., Hip Hop Education and M.A., Hip Hop Education and Social Entrepreneurship Social Entrepreneurship Founding Director, Founding Director, Hip Hop Education Center - Hip Hop Education Center - Universal Hip Hop Universal Hip Hop Museum Museum 30 30 TO TO OUR OUR COMMUNITY COMMUNITY We are proud of our year one suc- cesses and want to acknowledge the support, enthusiasm, and collabo- rative energy of the many Hip Hop artists, performers, educators, and U of T partners we worked with this season. LOOKING FORWARD LOOKING FORWARD “The reason I think Hip-Hop Education matters is found within the very definition of Hip-Hop. Hip means to know or become crit- ically conscious and Hop means to move. The more you know, become aware, become critically con- scious, the more you want to move to improve the world around you. It’s bigger than obtaining fame and wealth for ya self—it’s more about gaining wealth (Knowledge, Wisdom & Understanding) collectively as a community.” MARCUS SINGLETON MARCUS SINGLETON Ph.D Student , University of Toronto Rapper (Iomos Marad) “Hip Hop has the power to connect all of us. Hip Hop also has the power to unite and heal. When you move beyond the negatives and see all the positives that Hip Hop creates as a space then you can appreciate its usefulness as a tool to connect and allow students to explore, use their voice, as well as create opportunities to be seen on their own terms.” REBECKAH PRICE REBECKAH PRICE Nike Trainer Yoga Teacher Diversity & Wellness Consultant 32 32 IN 2020 IN 2020 AND AND BEYOND BEYOND One day, we envision establishing an annual Hip Hop Educator in Res- idence. This would allow a Hip Hop educator to work directly with Hart House to drive new programming and expand the scope of their existing work. EDUCATOR IN EDUCATOR IN RESIDENCE RESIDENCE NEW PARTNERSHIPS NEW PARTNERSHIPS We are looking to build new ties with existing not-for- profit and commercial organi- zations that promote Hip Hop artistic and cultural practices throughout Toronto, Canada, and the world. We wish to be a part of a healthy and thriving Hip Hop ecosystem that supports and empowers all those involved. CO-CURRICULAR CO-CURRICULAR LEARNING LEARNING We are renewing our focus on co-curricular learning; looking at new ways we can engage and support our students through Hip Hop cen- tered artistic communities, and even entrepreneurial networks. LOOKING FORWARD LOOKING FORWARD OUR PARTNERS OUR PARTNERS CONTACT US CONTACT US If you are an artist, organization, or community member interested in collaborating, or if you want to learn more about Hart House’s Hip-Hop Education program, please con- tact: Zoë Dille Zoë Dille Senior Coordinator, Integrated Learning and Community Engagement zoe.dille@utoronto.ca 416-978-5362 Jessica Rayne Jessica Rayne Program Associate, Integrated Learning and Community Engagement University of Toronto Missisauga Program Liaison jessica.rayne@utoronto.ca 416-978-3544 34 34 Marco Adamovic Marco Adamovic Coordinator, Integrated Learning and Community Engagement University of Toronto Scarborough Program Liaison marco.adamovic@utoronto.ca 416-946-8391