Indigenous Hip Hop Projects (IHHP)
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Why hip hop?

Indigenous Hip Hop Projects (IHHP) use hip hop as a method to engage young people. For more information on what hip hop is and its history, read on.

Hip hop is a culture. It is defined by five key elements:

  • Knowledge
  • DJ-ing (dee-jaying)
  • MC-ing/beat-boxing
  • Breaking (break dance)
  • Graff (aerosol art).

Breaking, a dance style, began in New York City’s South Bronx in the early 1970s. It is usually danced to the “drum break” section of a funk record. Other dance styles that come under the hip hop dance style banner are locking, popping and freestyle dance (hip hop) (see definitions). At a jam or concert, dancers can also include rapping in their performances, in which the artist speaks in rhyme and verse, usually to an instrumental or synthesised beat. Modern beats can incorporate synthesisers, drum machines and live bands.

The concept of using hip hop as a way to relate to young people has been used since the first “Block Parties” in the South Bronx in the 1970s. DJ Kool Herc would play music from large speakers to unite youth in a positive way. “Peace, love, unity and having fun” is the term created by Afrika Bambatta to describe hip hop culture. It was Bambatta’s idea to unite all key elements into the culture we now know as hip hop, a tool used as an outlet for troubled/at risk youth to express themselves in a positive way. Originally involving African-American and Latino young people in New York, hip hop has spread to all corners of the globe, welcoming youth from different social, cultural and religious backgrounds. Hip hop culture has become a universal language which is highly relevant to today’s youth.

Over time, the use of hip hop has developed into a modern and culturally-sensitive way to engage young people and allow them to express themselves - “rap music and the hip hop culture represent the pulse, the thoughts, values and experiences of youth worldwide today”. [1]

However, hip hop has received a bad reputation for being violent and sexist. [2] In using hip hop as a method of engagement, IHHP do not support violence, racism, sexism or discrimination of any kind. For example, all songs used and developed by IHHP are carefully screened for negative messages. By drawing on the positive aspects of hip hop culture, and avoiding the negative, hip hop is an effective way of encouraging youth development, supporting thinking and promoting healthy lifestyles.[3] It is educational, culturally-sensitive, engaging and empowering.[4]

[1] Wilkins, N. (1999). Hip-hop generation - youth in high-risk environments. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration. Vol 17. No 12. pp.107-112.
[2] I Allen, NT. (2005). Exploring hip-hop therapy with high risk youth. Praxis. Vol 5. No. 1. pp. 30-36
[3] Hicks Harper, PT. Rhodes, WA, Thomas DE. Leary, G. & Quinton, S. (2007). Hip-hop development - bridging the generational divide for youth development. Journal of Youth Development. Vol 2. No 2.
[4]. Ibid.