Hip-Hop As Therapy

06/01/22 • 27 min

Hip-hop has been called many things: a culture, a religion, and a way of life. For the people of the Bronx in the ‘70s, hip-hop was a place to belong and a place of refuge from the chaos. In this episode, Caz talks with experts Dr. Jaleel K. Abdul-Adil and Dr. Ebony Utley about the ways hip-hop transforms, heals, and expands on conventional forms of self-care. He also sits down with artists Busy Bee and Grand Wizzard Theodore to share what hip-hop meant to them when the going got tough. Community organizer and educator Melissa Libran also joins to explore how hip-hop educates and builds positive futures for the next generation. Tune in and bring a notebook because you’ll want to write all of this down.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

The Turntable

In the fundamentals of hip-hop, the DJ is number one. From the first party DJ Kool Herc played in the Bronx to the innovative two-turntable genius of Grandmaster Flash, the DJ is the foundation of hip-hop music and culture. In this episode, Caz sits down with the inventor of scratching Grand Wizzard Theodore and turntable champion DJ Shortkut to explore the mastery of turntablism. From building a sound system to mastering a technique, the DJ has evolved into a full-on art form. Grab your headphones and a new set of needles because you won’t want this record to skip.

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Next Episode

The High

Mind-altering substances have always had an influence on popular culture and music, but for hip-hop it wasn’t just in the music. In the late ‘70s and ‘80s drugs were in communities and homes all around the city. As the epidemic tore through the Bronx, hip-hop was an escape and way for people to tell their stories. In this episode Caz invites scholar and author Jeff Chang to talk about the role drugs have played in hip-hop music and culture in the Bronx, walking us through the evolution of substance use and hip-hop through time. Legendary MC Busy Bee and Sha Rock return to talk about their personal experiences and how they rose above and beyond the strife with hip-hop at their side.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse or a mental health disorder, call the SAMHSA National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit https://www.samhsa.gov/ for free, confidential treatment referral and information, 24/7

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.