History through Hip Hop (HHH)
HHH targets school retention and literacy by employing, high-risk students to write, record, and produce original music.
- Uses Hip Hop art and culture to inspire student interest in history and literature and to provide students with the tools to become a positive voice in their community
- Helps connect teens with modes of self-expression by teaching them to write, produce, and perform original songs
- Increases interest in technology by teaching music production
HHH also achieves the following outcomes:
HHH starts January 11, 2010 at the MMAP offices.
2009 Program Update
MMAP’s History through Hip Hop (HHH) program is rapidly developing and continues to exemplify the vision set forth by founders Sean Scott and Bronson McDonald since its inception in 2004.
As an employment opportunity HHH not only keeps youth off the streets and out of trouble after school but also cultivates research and study skills, literacy, and organizational habits that can be transferred to the classroom and eventually to the business world. This past spring the HHH program served eight high school students of a multicultural, multi-ethnic, bi-gender demographic, representative of East Palo Alto's youth population.
Recent projects include the recent eXchange Program, where HHH students met with Talisman, Stanford's South African student A Capella group, twice a week for three weeks. In this program HHH and Talisman came together to produce an original A Capella (voice only) song titled, "Lyrical Artillery." This song was composed and recorded in MMAP's recording studio then sent out to South Africa with Talisman to complete the final step in this exchange project. Talisman then met with the youth of the Kwaito Dance group in Soweto, South Africa, who then choreographed a dance for this song. This project culminated back at Stanford as HHH performed the song with Talisman at their annual spring show as the recorded Kwaito dance video played on the big screen.
Through the Mural Verses project, written and recorded by youth for the Mural Virtual Tour Initiative, youth contributors chose MMAP murals and researched the themes within the Mural Descriptions. Each participant then wrote, recorded, and performed a Mural Verse that explained the important themes of a specific mural. This project developed research skills, touching on the original foundations of the HHH program, while raising awareness about community issues.
The "Movement" benefit concert is an annual collaboration with Stanford's Caribbean Students Association to promote and produce a show for community members and Stanford students. The 2009 event was hosted by Emmy Award-winning actor, Robert Ri'chard.
Chronology of Events
In 2004, MMAP piloted the History Through Hip Hop Program. Since 2004, HHH has educated, empowered, inspired, united, and employed a diverse population of youth from East Palo Alto, East Menlo Park and Redwood City to produce positive, research-based music, and dance performances. The program’s original recording facility in Los Altos was custom built and installed by the students and staff of the program in 2006 to meet a growing need and demand for full-time access to studio and class space. The MMAP studio, now in East Palo Alto, is a hub for teen lyricists, producers, dancers, studio engineers and public speakers under the instruction and mentorship of dedicated MMAP staff, largely comprised of Stanford student leaders and volunteers. In 2007, after the release of the HHH debut compilation, "Natural Born Leaders," the HHH program received a substantial increase in interest and was compelled to expand the performance aspect of the HHH program.
Stanford's Caribbean Student's Association sponsored the first opportunity for HHH students to perform in a prestigious, and professional venue with "The Movement Concert 2007" at Stanford’s Dinkelspiel Auditorium. The Movement creates a unique point of access for socially polarized communities. In 2007 The Movement featured the HHH collaboration with the Amy Biehl Foundation and the Soweto Dance Ensemble to write and perform the AIDS Awareness song "Contagious."
"The Movement Concert 2008" at Stanford’s Kresge Auditorium was equally successful bridging regional youth artists and performers with the Stanford community. In 2008, Stanford's multi-cultural A cappella group, Talisman, joined forces with HHH youth, and South African musicians, to write, record and perform a powerful song paying tribute to the struggle to overcome years of apartheid. Capitalizing on this powerful, international collaboration with the Talisman, HHH headlined at The Movement Concert 2008.
