As we kick things off today the first thing we need to do is acknowledge the start of Hip Hop History Month. For many this 'little tid bit' of information has gone by folks with little or no notice. But thats a reflection of us as a society and a community at large. For many, it's all about the 'here and now'. Folks are more inclined to forget the past. The sad results of such thinking is twofold. First, we wind up repeating past mistakes. And two we lose the opportunity of being able to build upon the wisdom and rich legacy that was laid down before us.

Now granted for many Hip Hop History Month has been a bit confusing. Some media outlets and record companies for some reason or other were declaring Hip Hop History Month back in September. Why they did this I do not know. Perhaps it was because the landmark record 'Rappers Delight' by Sugar Hill Gang was released in September/ October of 79. If you recall folks were running around two years ago celebrating Hip Hop's 20th anniversary. There are some who erroneously think that the release of Hip Hop's first landmark record is where everything begins which is a shame because it negates all the years Hip Hop was in existence prior to Sugar Hill Gang's record.

Others have simply ignored the press conferences and writings put out by Afrika Bambaataa and the Universal Zulu Nation members that explained and clearly pointed out that in November of 2001 they will be celebrating their 27th Anniversary. Not only will they be celebrating, but they will be doing as they have year in and year out by holding a series of workshop's panel discussions etc. Folks from all over the planet have long come to NY for the Zulu Nation anniversary, but one wouldn't know this if you let others tell or in this case NOT tell the story. But all this should not come as too big a surprise. After all, that seems to be the 'American' way-to forget, downplay or rewrite History. It seems to be our collective way of doing things by separating young from old and them telling youngstas who are still impressionable that their elders know very little. This leaves them open to be manipulated and pointed in the wrong direction.

Such findings are an indication that those of us who know better have to step up our efforts to reach out and teach. We have to go to where the masses are and maintain a strong prescence. We have a duty to go out and help put things ina historical context. For example, I often run into cats who will boldly assert that 'REAL HIP HOP' does not allow one to recite pre written rhymes and sing songs. When I pull out an old Cold Crush or a Crash Crew tape from '78, they look with blank stares. Many note they never even heard of Cold Crush or the Crash Crew. Often they are willing to build and see their place in history. They gain a deeper appreciation once exposed to the knowledge. Sadly, others are less receptive. They don't wanna hear about history.They aren't trying to build. Usually these are the cats who have a vested interest in keeping History re-written and obscured. They feel threatened because they have somehow feel that by showing the past they will somehow be less large today. This is especially true if they themselves have inserted themselves in the History or they've been building in the wrong direction. No one likes to admit when their wrong.

Its kinda like what happened when Sugar Hill Gang first came out in '79 and suddenly blew up. Initially they never shared the fact that they had gotten their rhymes from Grandmaster Caz of the Cold Crush Brothers. They weren't willing to let cats know about all the groups that came before them. Perhaps it was a simple oversight, or perhaps it was the fear of appearing less credible when folks who were admiring them realized they weren't the only game in town. Knowing Hip Hop History does not mean you have to live in the past. It does mean that you understand that you are a continuum of an on going story. Most Hip Hop pioneers that I know clearly understand their connection to the larger story picture. Bam, Herc, Flash, DJ Hollywood, Kurtis Blow, Popmaster Fabel, Crazy Legs, Van sylk, Rocksteady and numerous others if you speak to them can and will emphatically make the connection to past generations that lead up to their existence. They clearly understand that Hip Hop did not show up in a vacuum. They know the early b-boy dances were inspired by James Brown's 'The Good Foot'. They know that George Clinton, Sly Stone and other funk and soul musicians were crucial early building blocks on the music tip. Pioneering emcees know that there were always people in the hood spitting some sort of rhyme. Whether they were smooth talking hustlers on a local street corner, energetic Black radio jocks introducing a song or little girls in a school yard playing double dutch, pioneering emcees know that they simply added to this Oral Tradition. Hip Hop pioneers know that long before artists like E-40 and others started twisting words and making up all sorts of colorful slang in 2001, that the cats like Cab Calloway were putting out slang dictionaries [The Hepsters Dictionary] to help folks understand the game he was spitting back in the 1930s.

When pioneers like Bambattaa talk about KNOWLEDGE being Hip Hop's 5th Element they are acknowledging that the importance of knowing your history will help guide your future. Many of the cats I know are ardent students of history. They are constantly trying to unearth hidden gems from the past. By doing so they get to know about themselves-that can only lead to us being better people. For example, when you talk to cats like Crazy Legs, they let you know about some of the early groups like the Salsoul Crew or TBB and the original names used to describe b-boying like 'Boing'. Other cats like Van Sylk can break down the early Brooklyn DJ scene where guys like the late Grandmaster Flowers and DJ Plummer ruled. Others will point to the significance of Pete DJ Jones who is now in his 60s but one of Hip Hop's foremost pioneers.

Pioneers like Popmaster Fabel have dedicated a lot of their time unearthing the significance of fashion and the role it played in early Hip Hop. Many have forgotten the old jean jackets that early Hip Hoppers used to wear and how they originated from many of the outlaw gangs that once ruled the Bronx. For many who live outside of NY, Hip Hop has regional roots. For example when we put together the Hip Hop Exhibit here in the Bay Area we were shocked to discover footage of cats doing the electric boogaloo and pop locking from as far back as 1967. We discovered rap records being put out in the Bay as far back as 1980 and emcees like Steve Walker and Motorcycle Mike proceeding pioneers like Too Short by several years.

The bottomline is that with each passing day we are learning more about Hip Hop and ourselves. With November being Hip Hop History Month we should all challeneg ourselves and strive to learn more... Listed below is next week's activities. Also is reprinting of an article I wrote two years ago that deals with some early History.. Peace out everyone and enjoy Hip Hop History Month..