Ed Post

#FreedomFriday: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop (ft. Gabe Bryant)

Gabe Bryant joins Freedom Friday to discuss a big anniversary for hip hop and the current state of the genre.

Gabe Bryant, a.k.a. Gabriel Prosser, is a Philly-based educator, activist, and emcee originally from Brooklyn, NY. He joined Freedom Friday to help our CEO, Chris “Citizen” Stewart and Sharif El-Mekki (President and CEO, Center Black Educator Development) break down what the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop means for the genre, the culture, and for education.

“If #HipHop were a person, it would be a member of AARP now.” @citizenstewart getting us kicked off talking about the long-lasting impact of hip hop. @selmekki #FreedomFriday https://t.co/drpTuGOO3z pic.twitter.com/LEcRlqjfvA

— Ed Post 🎓 (@edu_post) June 16, 2023

Chris, Sharif, and Gabe explored the history and cultural importance of hip hop as well as interrogated its importance in the education space. The trio broke down the difference between “conscious” hip hop and corporate, often more mainstream music. The conversation touched on the African roots of the genre, the messaging that is most prevalent in the music, and who and what we should be uplifting when it comes to hip hop.

“We do damage if we don’t remember the roots… the call and response of #HipHop with African ties. Jamaican roots in the music, etc.” @citizenstewart #FreedomFriday https://t.co/drpTuGOO3z pic.twitter.com/E1ChNz6W9H

— Ed Post 🎓 (@edu_post) June 16, 2023

Catch the full episode above, and leave a comment letting us know what you think. What does 50 years of existence mean for Hip Hop and what is the current state of the music?