The Hip Hop Congress (HHC) is a non profit, international

grassroots A grassroots movement is one that uses the people in a given district, region or community as the basis for a political or economic movement. Grassroots movements and organizations use collective action from the local level to effect change at t ...

organization. Its mission is to evolve

hip hop culture Hip hop or hip-hop is a culture and art movement that was created by African Americans, Latino Americans and Caribbean Americans in the Bronx, New York City. Hip hop culture is characterized by four key elements: rapping, DJing and turntablis ...

by ''inspiring social action, civic service and cultural creativity within the community''. This includes events and workshops focused on the Hip Hop arts of DJing and turntablism, MCing/

rapping Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

, breakdancing, graffiti art and

beatboxing Beatboxing (also beat boxing) is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of mimicking drum machines (typically a TR-808), using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice.

. Its headquarters is located in

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Programs

*Chapter Program — The Hip Hop Congress currently works with more than 30 chapters on university campuses, high schools, and communities around the world. Chapters engage in a range of activities promoting hip hop culture on their campus or in their community. Each chapter responds to the needs and the personalities of their local community. Many chapters produce Awareness Weeks: a week of different events focusing on hip hop culture including but not limited to festivals, concerts, academic discussions and movie screenings. *Artist Program — HHC Artists are not only defined by their ability to entertain, but more importantly through their ability to understand the important role that creative expression plays within the community. HHC seeks to elevate the status of the “Artist” to that of “Cultural Worker” through HHC-sponsored events that represent a professional standard within the fields of arts, education, and activism. These events are designed to help hip hop artists pool resources, sell music and take advantage of opportunities the music industry has to offer without losing or giving away the rights to their works in return. *Online Program — Hip Hop Congress' online program fosters collaboration with like-minded websites and helps to connect chapters, artists, and Members. A mirror organization, Hip Hop Congress Europe, which is based in

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, networks organizations in

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England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

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and the

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with the intention of creating after school programs and sharing projects created in these schools through the use of technology.

History

In 1993, Real Robinson IV (Producer, Entrepreneur) started an artist organization called The Hip Hop Congress (HHC). In 1997 after meeting

Shamako Noble Shamako Noble is a hip hop artist, cultural organizer, and political theorist from San Jose, California. He was one of the co-founders of the Hip Hop Congress. He was a candidate for U.S. Senate for California in 2016, though he did not actually ...

in San Diego, Ca. They formed the first North & Southern community chapters. In 2000, Jordan Bromley and Ron Gubitz started a campus activist group called by the same name. The two groups did not know about each other until the summer of 2000, while surfing the web. Instead of arguing over who should keep the name, the two organizations merged and formed the current Hip Hop Congress.

Key Members

A national office of nine members serves as a

think tank A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governmenta ...

that devises new initiatives using the Congress' tools to create new inspiration and action in local communities, develops strategic partnerships with other organizations and is currently working on developing a fundraising campaign. Rahman Jamaal, ''National Executive Director, Chairman of the Board''
Real Robinson IV, ''Co-Founder (1993), Vice Chairman of the Board''
Piper Carter, ''National Secretary''
Ron Gubitz, ''Co-Founder (2000), Treasurer''
Tina Wright, Ph.D, ''Boardmember''
Alyssa Macy, ''Boardmember''
Ben Eisenberg, ''Boardmember''
Paradise Gray, ''Boardmember''
Asia Yu, ''Boardmember''
Jordan Bromley, ''Co-Founder (2000), Legal Agent''

, ''Co-Founder (1997), Former Executive Director''
Lonnie Green, ''Cultural Education Director''
Darcel Labrie, ''National Recruitment Director''
Alisha Francis, ''National Radio Director''
Mike Molda, ''National Events Touring Director''
Barbara Miron, ''Finances & Operations''
Michael Crenshaw, ''Northwest Regional Director''
Natalie Pohley, ''West Coast Regional Director''
Mike Wird, ''Southwest Regional Director''
Anita Tobin, ''South Regional Director''
Acie Clayborne III, ''Midwest Regional Director''
Maurice Taylor, ''Northeast Regional Director''

References

External links

Hip Hop Congress website

Hip Hop Congress facebook page
{{Authority control Communications and media organizations based in the United States Music organizations based in the United States Non-profit organizations based in California Arts organizations established in 2000 Educational organizations based in the United States