[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 424 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 424

 Honoring the Cultural Initiative, Inc. on the 20th anniversary of the 
             first hip hop conference at Howard University.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 5, 2011

 Ms. Waters submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
              the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Honoring the Cultural Initiative, Inc. on the 20th anniversary of the 
             first hip hop conference at Howard University.

Whereas, on February 21, 2011, the Cultural Initiative, Inc. celebrated the 20th 
        anniversary of the first national hip hop conference on the campus of 
        Howard University;
Whereas the students at Howard University along with Transatlantic Crossing 
        Artist Management, Philadelphia International Records, and Black Nia 
        F.O.R.C.E gave birth to what is now commonly referred to as the hip hop 
        education movement;
Whereas the inaugural national hip hop conference in 1991 resulted in the 
        creation of the Cultural Initiative, Inc., the Howard University 
        student-run corporation that was established to produce subsequent 
        conferences and related projects;
Whereas at the national hip hop conferences the Cultural Initiative, Inc. 
        invited and meaningfully engaged a cross section of people including 
        local and internationally renowned artists, Washington, DC, metro area 
        public schools students, college students from across the country, and 
        entertainment industry executives;
Whereas prior to the birth of said hip hop conferences, there was no formal or 
        informal national organized effort, student led or otherwise, to analyze 
        and celebrate the intersection of hip hop art and culture, social 
        justice, education, and academia;
Whereas the Cultural Initiative, Inc. Hip Hop Music Conference, went on for 6 
        successful years producing seminars, summits, workshops, fashion shows, 
        MC Showcases, DJ contests, and concerts all focused on educating 
        aspiring artists and other industry related entrepreneurs, inspiring 
        current artists and industry professionals, and positioning hip hop to 
        the Nation as an art form that would define a culture, a generation, and 
        change the social and economic paradigm for generations to come;
Whereas early conference notables were artists and entrepreneurs such as Sean 
        ``P. Diddy'' Combs, Common, Queen Latifah, dream hampton, Keith 
        Clinkscales, Heavy D, Chuck D, and Doug E. Fresh;
Whereas the Cultural Initiative, Inc. conferences became known for their star 
        appeal, opportunities to network and present your craft, information 
        sharing, and cutting edge topics, all in a safe environment;
Whereas the conferences received positive reviews for an unprecedented 6 years 
        from the Washington Post, Billboard, Washington Times, Source, VIBE, and 
        several industry and local media outlets along with countless 
        independent media start ups and college media; and
Whereas the national hip hop conferences of the 1990s were a pioneering force in 
        delineating the difference between hip hop as commerce and hip hop as 
        culture: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors the Cultural 
Initiative, Inc. on the 20th anniversary of the first hip hop 
conference at Howard University.
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