Celebrating 50 Years of Hip-Hop
April 25, 2023
2023 marks the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop and Stirred Stories is joining in on the celebrations. We spoke with author and Bronx native Kai-ama Mootoo-Hamer about her commitment to the borough she and Hip-Hop call home and how her experiences with the musical genre prepared her for her literary career.
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SS: When were you introduced to Hip-Hop?
Kai-ama: I was eleven years old and hanging out in the community center of Academy Gardens, a housing complex in the Soundview section of the Bronx. An older boy began to blast his boombox-–the song emanating from the speakers was Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick’s ‘The Show.’ The beat, the lyrics, the flow, the showmanship touched my young spirit. And that was the moment I fell in love with Hip-Hop.
I began writing my own rap songs shortly thereafter. Of all the elements that make up rap, I was most drawn to lyrics––I wanted to tell stories and captivate others by impressing them with my lyricism. I began listening to rap music constantly and nearly exclusively. Artists like Kool G Rap, Rakim, KRS-One, Nas, and Queen Latifah appealed to me because of the gritty urban stories they told and the cadence and lyrical agility they displayed.
SS: Tell us a bit about your journey to becoming a Hip-Hop artist.
Kai-ama: I began battling in the hallways in middle school and performing in talent shows and in school assemblies. From around 1993 to 2001, I made demos and performed at open mics all over New York City. I rapped as part of groups and I performed as a solo artist. But after many years of diligent work and no real prospects of making it big, I gave up my rap dream, returned to college to finish my degrees, and became a teacher.
SS: You've gone from writing verses to writing children's book rhymes. There's some synergy there. Can you tell us more about your approach to self expression? What keeps bringing you back to writing?
Kai-ama: What does one do with the brain of a teacher, the heart of a lyricist, and the soul of a Hip-Hop artist? Write a children’s book, of course. I left the stage but Hip-Hop has never left my heart. I use the elements of rhyme and cadence that I developed during my rap career in Cornrows, Box Braids, and Little Afro Puffs, the story of a Black girl named Amber learning to love who she is and to appreciate what she sees in the mirror.
SS: Anything else you want to share?
Kai-ama: I am always a Bronx girl. Self-aware, strong and unabashed in my expression that although growing up in urban NYC was hard, it is possible to go after your dreams and thrive. Publishing my first children’s book through Stirred Stories is proof that there is truly a lot of ‘good in the hood.’ As I prepare to celebrate 50 years of a music and culture that changed my life, nothing is more Hip-Hop than that.
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About the author: Author Kai-ama Mootoo-Hamer was born and raised in the Bronx, New York and is a self-proclaimed city girl who loves her neighborhood and has pride in her community. A former rap artist and special education teacher, Kai values the social emotional health of young children. Through Cornrows, Box Braids, and Little Afro Puffs, Kai wants to share a message of love and self-acceptance to all children––especially little Black girls who deserve to have their beauty affirmed.
About the book: Cornrows, Box Braids, and Little Afro Puffs is the story of one little girl’s journey toward self-love and acceptance. Through a trip to the hair salon and the unwavering love of her mother, Amber realizes that she is perfect just the way she is. Cornrows, Box Braids, and Little Afro Puffs is available on our website.