In Chicago for the rest of the week…  here to witness and be a part of the rising revolution through the world of hip hop.

This morning I was interviewed for the upcoming documentary titled, Business As Usual: The Exploitation of Hip Hop, being produced by Emjed Hammas, a 2004 Vision Force Boot Camp graduate.

The title, I think, is a bit of a misnomer.  The documentary expores the way that hip hop as a medium is currently being dominated by artists who often glorify a life of violence, drugs, easy money and denigration of women; and the rising trend of conscious artists who seek to change the world in a positive way through their lyrics.  Working daily with visionaries and revolutionaries, I just keep finding myself in the world of hip hop.  So many conscious youth see it as a medium for positive change. 

On a recent trip to Kenya to teach vision and entrepreneurship, for example, I witnessed not only the profound reach of hip hop, but it’s power as a medium for change.  I observed how high school students, who studied in classrooms with no electricity, washed their clothes by hand and ate the same meal of beans and maize for lunch were not so different from their American counterparts.  They ritualistically gathered around the TV at lunch, after school and on weekends to watch the latest hip hop videos.  Several of the students were, themselves, emcees, whose shared with me their vision for changing their country through hip hop.  In a culture where the youth seem to have no voice, their lyrics gave them a powerful voice for positive change .

For centuries the youth of the world have been without much of a voice in the political, cultural and economic landscape they live in.  All of that is about to change.  Diverse trends now point to a cultural, economic and political “revolution” emerging throughout the world.  And hip hop is at the center of the revolution. 

In the interview for the documentary, I got to contribute my vision for the future and the incredible power and opportunity conscious hip hop artists have to bring about the positive change they seek in the world. 

After my interview, Emjed sat down in the hot seat, and was interviewed.  One of the things he shared was how at the Vision Force Boot Camp he found that he stood for social justice, and his vision then emerged in the days, weeks and months afterward.  His life since boot camp has been shaped by this inner calling he got connected to during boot camp.  Emjed has a vision of empowering conscious artists to change the world by helping them find what they stand for, a vision that calls them to greatness and a way to express it. 

I dug up a testimonial Emjed wrote 5 months after his boot camp experience:

I was introduced to Michael Skye’s vision engineering technology in March 2004 while I attended one of his “Boot Camps”.  Let alone being a huge skeptic of self development seminars and groups (which in my opinion do nothing but activate human emotion and desire, through motivational talk and lots of preaching), the name “Boot Camp” alone was very unattractive to me to even consider attending such an event. 

After reading Skye’s e-book, debating for some time and not knowing exactly what this technology would do for me, I decided to sign up and see what all the “hype” was about. 

My God!  Within a period of 48 hours, I walked away with a vision for myself that I had never seen before.  Let alone seeing a vision, I was able to tap into an emotion, a powerful physical sensation that was new territory to me. HONOR!  I deeply realized for the first time in my life that the feeling of Honor is THE driving force in human evolution and transformation, and that it is ever present in every human being.  This was a unique and priceless awakening to a new paradigm in my life. 

So, what has changed?  Concrete, tangible and value creating RESULTS are the only proofs that make a theory or a concept valid and workable with. 

In the last five months, I have incorporated my company, formed a powerful group for my Board of Directors, I have diversified my business plan and brought in some new concepts that were inconceivable to me before, I have started exercising at least 4 times a week with a regular routine (I never exercised before, other than playing a soccer game here and there once or twice a month). 

Nothing is more evident to me than the changes that are occurring in my life, and nothing is more pleasing than watching myself unfold my own future and destiny; and I know this is just the beginning! 

I am fascinated with what Michael Skye has created here, and with absolutely no reservation, I recommend anyone and everyone to check this out.  You have nothing to lose and the whole world to gain.

 

Emjed Hammas, MBA, President and CEO 2020 Multimedia

Chicago, IL, USA

It’ been 2 years since Emjed’s boot camp experience now, and he’s in full swing with his first major project that evolved from his vision.  His film crew has interviewed legendary figures in the hip hop world, including, DMC and KRS1.  Later this week, I’ll get to sit in on interviews with other conscious hip hop artists.  Stay tuned…