On Wednesday, the 14th, I had the privilege to attend a lecture by KRS-One at the University of Delaware. The topic of the lecture was the Fundamentals of Hip Hop. Something rarely discussed, though I felt like KRS approached it very well. He spoke of the hip hop culture and how the history of hip hop as people know it, is more the history of rap and other byproducts of hip hop, such as graffiti, dj-ing, and breakdancing. That hip hop is not a physical thing, but a collective consciousness; a way of looking at things. He spoke also about perception and about changing the perception of your environment. Not taking things for what they are, but as what you can make them be for you. KRS brought up how people made it big in the music industry as it related to the origins of hip hop. His main point there was validation. Validation is what made people who they are. Put yourself in a persona where you are the greatest, support your friends and what they're doing. The person who validates you will then tell others about how great you are at what you do. Someone is going to notice.
I feel really inspired to get myself and my art out in the world. Get together with my friends and let everyone know how they are all great photographers, ceramicists, sculptors, painters, musicians, video artists, all of it, whatever medium they work with. I am the best at what I do. I am a great printmaker, screenprinter, painter, artist. I just need that second person to validate me and to start telling the world about my greatness.
And when it comes down to it, can I really be the real me? Without any consequences or regrets to my actions?
