We Asked: Hip-Hop Is Empowerment?

Shaya Navid, art teacher and dancer:

“Hip-hop has many elements, so there’s something in it for everyone. Whether painting, dancing, writing and rapping or creating beats is your thing, hip-hop provides a way to express yourself and discover who you are. If you like doing all of them, then all the more. Hip-hop is an inclusive, accessible form of creative expression; a way to discover one’s own abilities and to exchange ideas. Community and participation are key in this regard. Especially for Germany’s children and young people of colour, hip-hop has created spaces, representation and career paths that are not dominated by white people. Many of my colleagues who have taken this path to establishing artistic careers, studios and magazines are a source of inspiration to me. That has given me and many others a new perspective.”

Taiga Trece, rapper and songwriter:

“At its core, hip-hop is raw and authentic. For me, self-empowerment means tapping into my own strength and using it to take the initiative. The more centred we are, the more clearly can we stand up for ourselves and for others. You don’t need a degree, qualifications or lots of resources to get into hip-hop. Much of it can be improvised, and that makes it accessible to everyone. Added to this is a global network that is united by a shared ethos of respect, exchange and solidarity. This creates a sense of belonging and often provides a safe haven. To make things happen takes courage and the willingness to let go of things or to tackle it head-on. If we allow this process, new avenues will open up.”

Jogi Scheuerer, a.k.a. Boshi San, rapper and musician:

“Hip-hop emerged as a response to structural discrimination against Black people and people of colour and was linked from the outset to various traditions of resistance and survival, such as the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. Their motto, “each one teach one”, sums up this self-empowerment strategy: The idea is to teach ourselves and each other, and in doing so, create something together. This can be applied in many contexts and is what makes hip-hop so versatile and globally accessible. For me, hip-hop has always been – and still is – a source of strength and a defiant glimmer of hope. If you give me a fresh beat, a pen and a sheet of paper, I feel as though anything is possible, every single time.”

More about 5elements (in German)