Hip-Hop Chess Federation - expanding minds and hip hop

I am often asked why, or more often criticized for, I have disdain of hip-hop. This is especially true in regard to gansta rap music. And my answer is always in one wording or another the following:

"I do not support anything that commoditizes Black culture and pigeon-holes African Americans. We are diverse, intelligent, successful Americans. Anything that detracts or distracts from that deserves to be reviled."

Put another way, I grew up with rap music. I enjoyed it as much as anyone, if not more than some, prior to 1992. It was up until that time that Hip Hop was still formative. There was a diversity in the sub-genres that fell under the cloak of hip hop.

There was political, social, and just recreational commentary. All at the same time. And there were positive messages being put out every day. Yet at that time, not one advertiser or the music industry itself would commit to rap and/or hip hop. Not until they found a way to package it and sell it as a negative. On that day it stopped being a fad (more than a decade after it had started) and was 'legitimate'.

Since 1992 there has been no reason to have anything but contempt for rap and hip hop, with the constant message of drugs, violence, gangs, and illiteracy being propped up as positives. Until I saw something today.

The Hip-Hop Chess Federation. The name alone drew my attention. I feared it was a gimmick meant to just drive more dollars to some corporation intent on denying the potential of Black youth. I'm glad to say this is not true.

Adisa Banjoko is one of the founders of Hip-Hop Chess Federation (HHCF). The stated goal of this organization that

"We recognize that chess, martial arts and hip-hop unify people from multiple cultural, religious and social backgrounds. These black and white squares do not care what color you are or if you are rich or poor. The only thing they ask is that you come with your strategy, your patience and your skills."

I can and do respect that thought. To use Hip Hop and rap in such a manner is more akin to the roots of the genre and its intention of improving and enjoying lives. This is something that hip-hop has needed for over a decade.

Since it's inception in 2007 HHCF has had the support of celebrities and entertainers including DJ QBert, international chess Master Vinay Bhat, Casual from the Hieroglyphics, award-winning filmmaker Kevin Epps and martial artists champions Denny Prokopos and Alan "Gumby" Marques. Without huge fanfare HHCF has been able to fund over $10,000 in educational scholarships.

So when I am asked why I find sell-outs like 50 cent to be a insult to the minds of the youth, it's not because I don't understand hip hop. Nor when I question the commercial interest to limit the growth of minds via gangsta rap am I against rap music - the full scope of it.

When presented with the positive, spiritually and mentally beneficial aspects of hip hop, as found in HHCF I am a happy supporter. Were there more organizations like this, I'd never have a negative word to say.