Changing Lives for Good.
According to the Oxford Dictionary a mentor is an ‘experienced and trusted advisor’. It’s another kind of role model – with more emphasis on teaching and learning; where the mentor plays an active role in sharing their know-how.
Hip Hop’s system of sharing and teaching within its community is a perfect example of the mentoring system. This mentoring takes two forms: ‘formal mentoring’ – where older or more experienced Hip Hop artists take time to show new-comers the ropes; and ‘intuitive mentoring’ – where skills and styles are copied in a less formal situation and often supported via the messages in Hip Hop's lyrics (as in Temple Jones' Back to the Books).
Negative Influences
This intuitive mentoring has also been used in the argument against the use of Hip Hop with young people – that the life-styles and lyrics are too easily copied and influence young people in a negative way. Despite the many positive examples coming out of Aotearoa, this argument continues – even within the Hip Hop world. It’s obviously causing pressure on the artists, as one of Eminem’s more recent songs, ‘Role Model’, indicates by its defensive tone:
I came to the club drunk with a fake ID / Don’t you wanna grow up to be just like me / I’ve been with 10 women who got HIV / Now don’t you wanna grow up to be just like me! Eminem – Role Model1
The unhealthy role model argument (which does have some valid points) can be one of the major roadblocks to using Hip Hop as a means to explore bigger issues. Particularly of concern in more traditional communities, such as within Auckland’s faith-based Pacific Island community, many families are unwilling to see their youth turn to Hip Hop because of its graphic nature. Yet through positive messages and mentoring, the benefits to youth development and self-esteem can be huge… by helping to build productive and successful lives. The challenge for youth workers is to prove this.
Adoption, Adaptation and Creation
In a process of adoption (taking on a new idea), adaptation (changing it to meet individual likes or needs) and creation (coming up with new and creative ways to add to the idea), every member of the Hip Hop community can carve out a unique place for themselves – there are no limits or rules to who takes part.
… a DJ can be real sly; you know there aren’t rules about the way you do something. It’s not like people are gonna say the way he did that right there was wrong, or he should have done that, he’s gone too far… it’s just like about liberty and freedom of speech 2
No Written Rules
This kind of learning – outside of the formal education system – is well suited to an art form with no written rules or cultural limits. Cultures who already use oral tradition to pass down their history, such as Māori and Pacific Islanders, find this teaching style very familiar and comfortable.
Often, ‘people with skill will take the student and show them some (foundational) techniques in the specific element of interest. The beginner is not always a young person and is usually anyone who has interest in the art form.’3
With no set time limits, the teacher decides when the student is ready to go off and develop on their own. It is at this point the student finds their own unique identity within their chosen element and within the larger Hip Hop community.
‘Dope’ Teachers
Many practitioners talk about their ‘mentoring’ experiences as the most important factor in their journey towards Hip Hop.
I had a dope teacher that year who fully encouraged us to go hard, so while kids were playing handball outside we were given an entire period to practice our moves… on a weekly basis we would showcase our moves to the class. Teremoana Rapley4
DJing was my Dad, he is a mobile DJ (still is), I used to go along to his discos and do songs when he was going to the toilet. I would have been about 13… DJ Sirvere5
When breaking first took off in this country back in the 80s, there were four or five places on Queen Street where crews would always be breaking and challenging each other which kept them out of trouble. It’s about being positive and it’s very physically and mentally rewarding. It helps you feel better about yourself, which in turn helps you go out there and face society. Norman Skeen6
This link to increased self-esteem, and to Hip Hop as an alternative to trouble, is a common theme. In the US, according to William Shaw in 2000, Hip Hop ‘gave a clear choice to young people: one may begin as a recruit for a gang as a lookout at the stoop, or the alternative was to assist in event promotion by becoming a flier or poster distributor.’7 The choices are often similar for those more actively involved in the four elements, who find a sense of achievement, pride and belonging through their performances, rather than ‘fame’ (or ‘infamy’) through crime (although graffiti is still considered vandalism by 'those in authority').
This footage from Cartagena, Colombia shows Hip Hop alive and well at the grassroots level with Haroi-K, a large crew of young breakers and mcs. From "Nga Tahi - Know the Links".
»watch video
In fact, Afrika Bambaataa (claimed by many to be the ‘godfather’ of Hip Hop) went from being a street gang member in the mid '70s to forming Zulu Nation – in an attempt to ‘channel the anger of young people…away from gang fighting and into music, dance, and graffiti.’8 Germany provides another example of how local initiatives have encouraged this shift of focus from crime to Hip Hop. Regular Rockmobil concerts are held, with a goal to ‘promote better relations between the youth of differing ethnic minority groups in Frankfurt.’9
Women, for the most part, usually suffer from a lack of self-esteem and pride in their ability. Either the rap industry demands that women act 'hard' in order to achieve status, or many females don't want to get involved in the skills of Hip Hop because they are used to getting attention by using their 'feminine fat', not realising the domino effects this has on other women.
Asia One, B-Girls, Are Ya Ready?
Today youth workers and Hip Hop practitioners are helping groups of young people develop their skills– often with older youth acting as positive role models for younger members. This mentoring has huge pay-offs for all involved. Not only does it build up a sense of self-esteem and achievement for the mentors, but also the younger participants are boosted from the proof that they are worthy of time being spent on them. By bringing in outside ‘authentic’ Hip Hop artists, the impact of this gift of time – this mentoring – is even greater.
In the US, white woman Wendy Day ploughed $500,000 into an organisation she calls the Rap Coalition. ‘She [now] lends her corporate skills to new rappers, putting them in touch with attorneys and helping set up [rap battles]… As a long-time rap fan she was tired of hearing stories about how inequitably young black rap acts were treated by the industry'…‘White folk have been robbing black folk since time began, and I wanted to do something as a white person to sort of balance out that injustice.’10
To finish with a local example of the gift of mentoring, the youth-based dance crew ‘Crucial Movement’ from Rotorua beautifully illustrates how a Hip Hopped/styled dance form can work at many levels within a community.
The group of 12 young people (aged 12 to 18 years) performed in over 29 events during 2004. They teach each other, choreograph, fundraise together, and recently added drama to their performances – inserting contemporary messages about ‘Breaking the Cycle’ of drugs, alcohol, violence and abuse. They believe they are the best ones to communicate their message to their peers, and to show them there is a way out of the moral and social traps many are caught up in.11
In terms of role models, what could be more inspiring?
- What does the word ‘mentor’ mean?
- What is ‘intuitive mentoring’?
- Explain the process of adoption, adaptation and creation in terms of Hip Hop.
- Why is Hip Hop seen as an alternative to trouble?
- What is the goal behind Germany’s Rockmobil concerts?
- What is the name of Rotorua’s youth-based dance crew?
Extend your thinking
Have you ever had a teacher, mentor or friend who has inspired you? What made them special? How did the support of this person affect your attitudes about yourself? If you wanted to communicate a message to young people, what would it be?
)
)
)
)
)
)