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The Miami Herald

August 18, 2001

GROUP BOOSTS POSITIVE SIDE OF HIP-HOP
Author: JENNIFER MILLER, jenmiller@herald.com
Edition: Final
Section: Local
Page: 3B
Article Text:

Real life is not a song lyric.
It's about making choices to get ahead.

That's the message Ed DeJesus delivered to the 400 young fans of hip-hop music who attended the ``Making It Youth Rally,'' a day of break dancing, performances and workshops at the Liberty City NFL Youth Education Town Center on Friday. ``When hip-hop artists call for violence as a resolution to conflict, kids should understand that is definitely not a way to resolve conflict,'' DeJesus said. ``Resolve things in a way to protect your life and your freedom.''

DeJesus is the director of The Source Youth Foundation - an offshoot of the group that produces The Source Hip-Hop Awards, which will be taped Monday at Miami Beach's Jackie Gleason Theater.

Concerned that violent lyrics are leading kids down the wrong path, DeJesus said representatives of The Source magazine contacted him to create the Making It Movement to spread the message to! youngsters nationwide that hip-hop has a positive side. Hip-hop music has earned a bad rap for songs characterized as demoralizing to women and advocating violence.

Last year's Source Awards in Los Angeles had to be stopped when a fight ensued during the show.

The problem, critics say, is that young fans often mimic their favorite hip-hop stars or act out lyrics.

``A lot of artists, let's be real, are giving you bad information,'' DeJesus said, adding that hip-hop shouldn't be about putting kids in danger.

DeJesus told the kids invited to Friday's workshop that they need to battle what he calls Hood Infected Syndrome and Addiction to Incarceration and Death Syndrome. Hip-hop's often violent lyrics encourage these social ills, he said.

But education and seminars - such as Friday's rally - can teach kids to enjoy the music, while steering clear of trouble.
Over the past five weeks, Source Foundat! ion youth leaders have gone to schools, churches and neighborhoods ask ing kids to make a pledge to stay positive and resolve to fight for their freedom.

The youngsters were told to memorize six survival laws, ranging from not engaging in violent behavior to developing better habits.

Miami-based rap star The P.O.D. - ``The Power of Dollars'' - performed at Friday's rally and encouraged kids to stay positive.

``My message is: Making it, achieving, you've got to keep believing,'' The P.O.D. said. He added that it's not only up to the kids to avoid violence - society needs to distinguish the difference between entertainment and reality.

``It's all entertainment,'' The P.O.D. said. ``Artists can only do so much. Parents must help.''

Miami-Dade Commissioner Darrin Rolle showed up to support the county's backing of the program - and to perform a duet with Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas, who was a no-show.

``We need this positivity for our children,'' Rolle said. ``Kids like hip-hop.! We need to take advantage of it.''

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