Dr. Umar Says Hip-Hop Hasn’t Done Anything For The Black Community
Is hip-hop an institution? Perhaps. Has hip-hop built institutions that benefit the Black community? Dr. Umar Johnson says no.
In a now viral interview from Hustle Over Everything where Dr. Umar was a guest, the Pan-African psychologist spoke about his disappointment in hip-hop and its inability to hold itself accountable for the image it projects.
Mouse Jones, who was also on the episode, got into a heated debate during the segment where hip-hop was discussed when he asked if Dr. Umar’s problem was with the culture of hip-hop or the industry itself—to which Johnson responded, “I’m talking about both.”
You’re still selling death and destruction to my kids while your kids are going to $30,000 a year privilege white schools; that’s what you call a traitor,” he said. “The hip-hop community has betrayed Black America.“
Dr. Umar used education as an example of an institution that could have been built by hip-hop—namely some of its success stories. Jay-Z’s name was dropped several times throughout the interview.
Supporters of the psychologist know that he’s been working on building his own institution, the Frederick Douglass Marcus Garvey Academy. When asked about an update on the status he said, “It’s time for inspection, we’re at the finish line.” Umar is expecting to start working with students next summer.
Jones agreed with Umar on one thing, hip-hop needs accountability. He also said that the industry and the culture need a Me Too Movement, but Jones wouldn’t allow the Pan-African to dismiss the 50-year-old movement—though he tried.
“It ain’t did shit in 50 years for the community. It made individuals rich and it’s it. And it gave out a couple of jobs. So did the drug dealer.”
Check out the complete interview below:
More from VIBE.com