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Common (right) being interviewed
by Bakari Kitwana.
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The pasts, present, and future of hip-hop all came under discussion during the Third Annual Clarion University Hip-Hop Symposium, which featured the theme, "Hip-Hop Symposium 2008: Global Impact!"
Keynote guest, hip-hop artist Common, drew a standing room only crowd to the Gemmell Student Complex Multi-Purpose Room as the highlight of the symposium. Bakari Kitwana, co-founder of the first National Hip-Hop Political Convention, interviewed Common on stage focusing his questions on Common's music, movies, justification of what he produces, and sexism and language.
Common, a 2008 Grammy Award winner and five-time NAACP Image Award winner, has appeared in several movies in addition to his music performances. He is recognized for his emphasis on family values and departure from the "gansta rap" material and negative posturing sometimes found in popular hip hop or rap lyrics and videos,
"I was raised to be who you are," said Common, who grew up in Chicago, Ill. "As an artist, I try to give a conscious message that is coming from my heart. The music talks about serious subject matter, which is not what the mainstream is into, it talks about life. I kept fighting to get it out and to be more respectful than a one-hit artist."
Succeeding at music with hits, "Can I Borrow A Dollar," "Resurrection," "i used to love h.e.r." and "One Day It'll All Make Sense," Common branched out into movies appearing prominently in "Smokin' Aces," "American Gangster," and other movies.
"I felt I had hit a ceiling and I wanted to express myself in another way, so I took acting classes," said Common. "I liked it and I tell everyone to find something they love in life and do it."
Speaking about hip-hop's international popularity, Common said, "Hip-hop has a more positive reaction internationally. It is a great feeling to go to another part of the world and have them know your music."
The symposium featured multiple tracks, a main scheduled and another with events for educators. Teachers registering for the educator's workshop received three Act 48 hours. Most sessions focused on hip-hop's worldwide impact.
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Carlos "Los 1" Ramirez II goes on the
air with Clarion University radio
station WCUC-FM.
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Carlos "Los 1" Ramirez II speaking at the session one, "Youth Movement Around the World," discussed the origins of hip-hop in Bronx, N.Y. as, "Music intended to encourage better decisions. It was intended to address social ills and came to serve as a scapegoat. That is why we are addressing changes to it now."
Ramirez, a long-time member of Fla.vor Alliance Hip Hop Crew, uses his talents to make a positive impact on society. He is a youth motivation speaker and is a United States armed forces, "Combat Support Speaker"
Martha Diaz, an educator, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and visionary with a decade of production experience, talked about founding H2O (Hip-Hop Odyssey) International Film Festival; H2Ed, which explores how curriculum, activities, and learning models using hip-hop culture can be a more effective way to connect, educate, and activate youth; and producing the Hip-Hop World Summit for the International Music Council. She showed movies pertaining to hip-hop's growth in countries such as Turkey and Japan.
The closing event was a Hip-Hop Global Impact Panel featuring Toni Blackman, Kitwana, Rufus Morris, Giuseppe Pepitone, and Ramirez II, with Janet White as moderator.
Kitwana, in addition to being the co-founder of the National Hip-Hop Political Convention is the author of "The Hip-Hop Generation: Young Blacks and the Crisis in African American Culture." He is currently an artist-in-residence at the University of Chicago.
Blackman is a U.S. Department of State American Cultural Specialist and Hip-Hop Ambassador to Senegal, Ghana, Botswana, Swaziland and Southeast Asia.
Morris is CEO and President, School of the heARTS, Syracuse, N.Y.
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Martha Diaz talks with Dr.
Michael Torres while student
Maria Yancey inspects one of
Diaz' books.
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Pipitone is the author of, "Bigger Than Hip-Hop" and "Hip-Hop from the Italian Diaspora." He is on the advisory board of the Black Soil International Hip-Hop Film Festival based in Rotterdam/Amsterdam, and is creator and manager of the digital magazine Hiphopreader.it
White is a TV producer and president of 5 Stone Entertainment.
The main schedule also featured an International Hip-Hop Film Festival and a Slam Poetry Workshop presented by John Miller president of the Clarion County Arts Council and co-owner of Artfunkle in Clarion.
The educators' track included: "Critical Pedagogy and Hip-Hop" presented by Dr. Greg Goodman, assistant professor of education, Clarion University; "Hip-Hop Infusion into the Curriculum" presented by Dr. Susan Prezzano, professor of anthropology, geography, and earth science, Clarion University, and Dr. Laurie Occhipinti, associate professor of anthropology, geography, and earth science, Clarion University; "Hip-Hop Literature and Lesson Plans" presented by Dr. Edna Reid, associate professor of library science, Clarion University; and a luncheon address by Martha Diaz.
Dr. Joanne Washington, professor of mass media arts, journalism, and communication studies at Clarion University, organizes the Symposium.
Symposium sponsors include: Campus Progress, Clarion University's Black Student Union, Student Senate, Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee, Office of Faculty Research and Graduate Studies Presidential Advancement Award, Office of the Provost, Office of the President, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business Administration, College of Education and Human Services, Division of Student and University Affairs, Department of Mass Media Arts, Journalism and Communication Studies, Extended Studies, Women's Studies, and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
Clarion University is the high-achieving, nationally recognized, comprehensive university that delivers a personal and challenging academic experience.
