Hip Hop Scholar and Fox News commentator Dr Lamont Hill came to the National Hip Hop Political Convention and laced us up with some serious gems regarding Hip Hop and the Academy.

he challnged us as to deeply explore whther or not we really want Hip Hop inside an institution that oftentimes takes people's works and isolates it from the communities that created or inspired it. He also cauntioned us not to fall into the trap of trying to seek legitmacy and validation from people and places for work within Hip Hop when those same people never really value us as a community.

In his remarks Hill cautioned us not to cannonize works of art that appeal to us. Hip Hop is forever eveolving and growing and as much as we'd like to think music from Hip Hop's Golden era or some other sacred time period is precious, it may not be seen that way to people growing up today. In short do not be so arrogant as to dismiss Lil wayne and Young jeezy because we personally don't like them. he broke down the history of how jazz artists were maligned by culuyral elistist who felt that what rthey were doing was not music. Hill said it was disappointing to hear jazz musicians come around and suggest that Hip Hop done by poo people cannot reach high artistic levels

Hill also talked about examining the ways in which Hip Hop teaches us outside of the traditional means. He said we need to better understand the unique things about Hip Hop and see the ingenuity and genius behind it.. Less