Introduction

Unlike most teen boys, I was not “poisoned” or burdened with chasing women or achieving “climaxes.”Besides my Grandmother (Alice Taylor) and my Mother (Beulah Taylor), the only woman I listened to was Mother Hip Hop.

When I first encountered her, she promised me that if I remained calm and walked the straight and narrow, she would bestow gifts upon me.

Let’s discuss the first one.

Gift 1 – Discipline

The first gift she bestowed upon me was DISCIPLINE.

I was no longer weighed down by emotions like my friends that lived in Kings Ridge.

I heard horror stories about Demons that infiltrated their lives:

• Depression
• Guilt
• Envy
• Jealousy
• Hatred
• Competition

I was not burdened by these demons.Mother Hip Hop promised me a simple solution:

• If you want to do something, IMAGINATE and bring it into reality

When I asked, she told me that DISCIPLINE was a magical sword that only “those worthy” could wield.

So I came home every day and pulled out the cardboard and worked on my moves.

From Monday to Friday Afternoon, I jumped down on the cardboard and went to work.

Unlike later generations, there was no one to emulate on TV or some instructional video to copy.

The beginnings were always rough.

I still remember when I decided to learn three new moves:

• The Windmill
• The Elevator
• The 1990

The work was hard, but nothing beat the satisfaction of walking with my crew to Rainbow Arcade on Saturday Evening and DJ Smash put on a hard-hitting Hip Hop Track, let’s say Looking For The Perfect Beat.

Their crew did their move and my crew nodded in my direction and I went out there and did those magical breakdance moves:

• Double Leg Swipes
• No-Hand Windmill
• The 1990
• Single Leg Swipes
• The Elevator

I promise you, nothing can “fill your Spirit” like those early days in ATL Hip Hop.

Gift 2 – Trust

As a young teen, I was filled with energy and always rushing to finish.

However, Mother Hip Hop told me to slow down and “TRUST” that what I needed would come in time.

Just as she promised, my talent branched off and suddenly, I was doing all forms of ATL Hip Hop:

• Breakdancing
• Popping
• Yeeking
• Beatboxing
• Rapping
• Graffiti Artistry

And even though these arts were spiritually-fluid, she whispered there was another level.

Hip Hop Scholarship.

And I wondered, “what’s that?”

I searched and searched and suddenly, one day, three letters came to me.KWT.

And these letters led me throughout my life and still guide me today.

💡 K = Knowledge W = Wisdom * T = Truth*

Gift 3 – Patience

As I grew into a man, Mother Hip Hop remained true to her promise.

From job to job, from disappointment to disappointment, she promised me that she would “nurture” me into the right path.

And now, 42 years later, I am now known as the Hip Hop Evangelist.

How could I have known that, as an 11 year old Teen, Mother Hip Hop would bestow this gift upon me to “grab the Torch” and keep her Spirit alive for the next century?

Conclusion

As a result of this inner growth, I was not burdened by the normal ailments of Black Men growing up in ATL:

• Fighting
• Stealing Cars
• Selling Drugs
• Robbing Banks
• Chasing Women all the time and blowing backs out
• Chasing Money
• Believing the Propaganda
• Following the Status Quo
• Going to Jail and/or Prison
• Selling my Soul to get a Record Deal
• Climbing the Ladder of Success and doing whatever is required

I can boldly state that, because of Mother Hip Hop’s Gifts to me, I was able to grow up with her Cultural Gifts:

• Discipline
• Trust
• Patience
• Knowledge
• Wisdom
• Truth
• Inner Peace
• Hip Hop Scholarship
• Personal Development
• Cultural Studies

For those of you who seek better lives, you can call upon Mother Hip Hop and let her Spiritual “Fire” ignite your Inner Fire.

And like the Spinners say in their famous song I’ll be around:

There’s always a chance, A tiny spark remains, And sparks turn into flames, And love can burn once again

So, I’m challenging you to open your Soul up to Mother Hip Hop and ask her to rekindle you so “love can burn once again.”

Homework Questions

• Who or What is Mother Hip Hop?
• What 3 Gifts did she give to MB?
• How did Mother Hip Hop save MB’s life?
• Do you agree with MB’s perspective on Mother Hip Hop? Why or Why Not?
• What is most memorable about this blog?
• How do you categorize MB as a Hip Hop Persona?
• Do you view MB as a Rapper, Graffiti Artist, Yeeker, or Scholar?
• Why do you think most people view MB as ONLY a Scholar?
• Do you believe this Story is TRUE or did MB make it up?
• What are the 10 Cultural benefits of Mother Hip Hop?