Black dreams are worth fighting for.
We are very excited to announce that our long-time dream of owning our own professional recording studio is now a reality! We began construction on August 1st, and hope to have it completed by the end of the year to provide a free community resource to youth under 21. From tracking and mixing, beat-making and rapping, to podcasting and video editing, we want this space to be a versatile environment for all things Hip Hop. Our POC youth need more free and safe spaces to heal from their collective trauma, and transform their frustrations into art and activism. The studio will also serve as an additional space for our Education Department to program our Hip Hop classes and workshops from.
Pipeline To Positivity Program:
As an Oakland based non-profit, one of our key initiatives for the studio is to help Oakland transitional youth reintegrate themselves back into our community by providing them with an outlet to pursue their creative passions. We believe that culturally relevant re-entry programs can offer possible methods for sustainable reform. With Hip Hop being a powerful cultural tool for communities of color, it encourages the ability to express oneself by storytelling their inner thoughts, feelings, realities, wisdom, reflections, and much more. Hip Hop For Change will be partnering with Alameda County Detention Center under the purview of the Alameda County Probation Department in connecting their Oakland youth to our resources, artists, and organization, as a part of their reintegration process.
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Connecting the youth with caring artist educators, who will serve as positive role models and nurturing mentors.
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Encouraging participant growth through culturally competent creative expression and giving them professional opportunities.
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Giving the youth a deeper understanding of the critical role of Hip Hop Culture in, and for POC communities.
STUDIO OBJECTIVES:
Artist Development:
Our Education Director, Marlon Richardson, will launch "Pipeline To Positivity" by providing ten transitional youth with artistic mentorship and professional development from HH4C artists. Our artist development program will produce 50 songs from participants that will air on KPOO, an independent, listener-supported radio station from which HH4C broadcasts conscious music and dialogue.
Educators will guide adolescents through their creative endeavors as they evolve throughout the program. Students will gain training by creating personal content, and part of their artist development involves producing five raps or songs, studio production and sessions, photo and video shoots. Our teaching artists are veterans of the field who have worked with class acts such as Rakim, Hieroglyphics, and Sa-Roc.
Special thanks to our partners & contributors:
But we still need your help!
