“I AM A CITIZEN OF HIP HOP“ AND BUSINESS Wall Street Project Executive Summit Executive Talk “REAL” Business
Wall Street Project Executive Summit Executive Talk “REAL” Business
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“I AM A CITIZEN OF HIP HOP“ AND BUSINESS
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Wall Street Project Executive Summit Executive Talk “REAL” Business
Harvey Butler, Arva Rice, Deborah Williams, Photo Credit: Terrance Jennings
New York, NY (January, 30, 2013)
– The words “I am a citizen of Hip-Hop” permeated throughout the second
floor plaza suite of the Roosevelt Hotel during a powerful symposium
entitled “Business in Hip-Hop”, one of the opening sessions of the 16th
Annual Wall Street Project Economic Summit, where eight industry
professionals joined Rev. Jesse L. Jackson in a packed room of more than
200 people to discuss the current state of Hip-Hop music, the pros and
cons of its commercial growth. Participants of the panel included Harvey Butler, Chief Executive Officer, Butler Management Group, LLC, former Vice President, Supplier Diversity at JPMorgan Chase; Martha Diaz, Founder and Director, Hip Hop Education Center, NYU; Deborah A. Williams, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, Her Game 2, Inc.; Craig Wilson, Founder National Museum of Hip Hop; Wayne Winston, Vice President, Caribbean Chamber of Commerce, Bridgeport, CT.
“The wrong people are in control of Hip-Hop, said Bob Celestin, an entertainment lawyer who has been working with artists for more than two decades. “You have Russell Simmons and Def Jam, and a few others, but there are fewer and fewer of those companies and people who understand the true essence of Hip-Hop.” In order to address the misconceptions of Hip Hop, and to salvage the culture, Martha Diaz, founder and director of Hip-Hop education center wants to see more non-profit organizations, museums and institutions committed to informing people of the music’s history.Although there are some negative aspects to the growth of Hip Hop, its transformation is not all bad. Craig Wilson, founder of the National Museum of Hip Hop believes that the new music that is out, although more commercial, is still real.
“The wrong people are in control of Hip-Hop, said Bob Celestin, an entertainment lawyer who has been working with artists for more than two decades. “You have Russell Simmons and Def Jam, and a few others, but there are fewer and fewer of those companies and people who understand the true essence of Hip-Hop.” In order to address the misconceptions of Hip Hop, and to salvage the culture, Martha Diaz, founder and director of Hip-Hop education center wants to see more non-profit organizations, museums and institutions committed to informing people of the music’s history.Although there are some negative aspects to the growth of Hip Hop, its transformation is not all bad. Craig Wilson, founder of the National Museum of Hip Hop believes that the new music that is out, although more commercial, is still real.
Kyle Donovan R. Donahue Peebles John C. Liu, Photo Credit, Terrance Jennings
“One thing that is true about Hip Hop is that those who have been here for a long time have the tendency to wax nostalgia,” he said. “But we have to understand that Hip Hop is a reflection of the world we live in. It has always been that way.” Rev. Jesse Jackson echoed that sentiment, and ended the session by stating that Hip Hop is evolving just like all things do, and the change should be embraced. “Hip Hop lasts because we keep watering the flower, the root,” Jackson said. “The child might be called Hip-Hop, but you don’t know who Hip Hop will get married to. It may come out as rap, it may come out in a sermon. All of this is a confluence of forces coming together.”
Rev Jackson & Panelist Hip Hop Session, photo credit, Terrance Jennings
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