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“The closest thing to a man that some of these [young
people]
see is in the video. So when they look at the video,
they say to
themselves, ‘Wow, that’s how I’m supposed
to
look…talk… act.’ But, that’s not true,” Condrey asserts.
Through mentorship,
states Condrey, “men become [great]
by following other great
men.” As a result of variant family
dynamics, Condrey
observes that a gap exists—one that
needs to be bridged in
order for change to happen. According
to Condrey, “Bridging
the gap takes connecting two generations
and showing the
younger generation the way. Bridging the gap
does not start
or stop with a pastor,” Condrey admonishes.
“Bridging the
gap starts with the schoolteacher and the next-
door neighbor
and so on.”
Although there's still much unchartered territory to cover,
Condrey has amassed a network of leaders across the US,
who support his cause—and in the midst of them, young
people who, more than anyone else, desire change. “Change
is needed but if it doesn’t start at home then it’ll be hard for
it to happen,” says 18-year-old Atlanta native, Audrianna
Wakefield. “Change has to become a two-part effort between
parents and community leaders. The first thing that has to
change is the way older people look at [us]. They tend to
judge us and see us as lazy, irresponsible, and rude as
if
we’re not capable of doing anything. They don’t give us
credit when we excel and they should,” Wakefield advises.
Hip-Hop Heroes
Supporting rap pioneer, Curtis “Kurtis Blow” Walker’s
sentiments that there is “spirituality in Hip-Hop,” TSOHH
fills
a void prevalent in many urban communities: nurturing,
moral
leaders/role models who make a difference and
create
positive
change. “I always knew that Hip-Hop was
very
spiritual,” Walker said. “There's something about the
rapper’s
popularity
and his mystique…. He has the potential
of
becoming the
communities hero. And in many cases,
that’s
what he is".
Even though Hip-Hop has obtained a bad
rap
as
a result of
lewd content, Condrey says, “that there
are
still
a
lot of great
artists—heroes even—in the industry”.
In
fact,
Condrey
believes that Hip-Hop music is changing
and
that
better examples [of good artists] are on the
rise.
Some
of
the
Hip-Hop artists lending their support
to
TSOHH
initiatives
include Fabo, Fonzworth Bentley,
Ludacris,
Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, LL Cool J, DMX,
and Bone Crusher.
In addition to the radio broadcast, Condrey collaborates
with
mainstream Hip-Hop recording artists and their gospel
counterparts to host a youth-centered event called, Exodus.
Since
its inception, Exodus has drawn over 8,000 children,
youth,
young adults, and parents to local clubs, churches and
other
venues annually to see Hip-Hop artists perform and be
inspired by host pastors such as Bishop Dale C. Bronner
and
Bishop Eddie L. Long. Last year, Condrey launched the
STAND 2007 campaign during which young people of faith
took a stand for prayer in public schools and committed to
leading pure lives.
Although Condrey has been on the radio since 1995, his
fervor
for reaching the community through TSOHH continues
to thrive. “Radio is for the community and the people. We are
supposed
to service their needs,” Condrey commented. With
program
syndication in 16 Radio One markets including Atlanta,
Los
Angeles, Dallas, Philadelphia, and Detroit and more than
10
million listeners, Condrey’s broadcast is a viable template
for
making media outlets accountable to the communities they
serve. Proof of how the spirit of Hip-Hop is bridging the gap
between the church and the streets.
TSOHH broadcast can
be heard on Sundays via the Internet
or
on Hot 107.9 from
6 am. to 11 am. and weekdays 7 pm.
to
10 pm. on Praise
97.5. For more on TSOHH, visit: www.thespiritofhiphop.com.
By Isha Edwards
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