“Each of you in this very powerful and revolutionary hip-hop community may have only wanted to make a good song and make a great impact, but maybe you are not aware that you have been chosen to lead. Accept the responsibility of leadership.”
Those are some of the words that the Hon. Min. Louis Farrakhan spoke to the hip-hop community at Russell Simmons’ first Hip-Hop Summit in New York City, June 2001.
As you scanned the audience, you saw heavy hitters in the industry: Jermaine Dupri, P. Diddy, Will and Jada Smith, Queen Latifah and many others. That same message is being echoed to the next leaders in this industry, through Dynasty Hip-Hop Inc. Mentoring Program.
One youth who has taken on this message is Frank Purrty, or Lil Frank.
Frank is putting his responsibility first, even over his personal tragedy, a tragedy that shocked a whole community – the murder of his older sister Alexis Purrty last July.
“I miss her, and think about her. I know she wants me to do my music,” Lil Frank told youth at Dynasty Hip-Hop Inc. Mentoring Program recently. Dynasty is a non-profit organization that helps youth through all aspects of hip-hop; it is also a part of the Ministry of Arts and Culture of The Millions More Movement, as well as A Call To Oneness and 100 Black Men.
Dynasty is working to help Frank go to the next level, along with his manager Spud of St. Louis’ legendary V.I.P. Records.
“Frank is a positive example to all youth (especially in St. Louis) who are victims of violence and have experienced violence in their families, not to retaliate,” Spud said.
“Even in his music, he is not pushing ‘gun this,’ or ‘I shot that.’ His music is positive.”
Accepting the responsibility to lead was echoed by the mother of Alexis Purrty and Lil Frank, Alicia Kimble. Kimble told the youth of Dynasty that her daughter’s life was an example for them of how not to handle conflicts. “Lexi died to save other people’s lives,” Kimble said.
“She wanted Lil Frank to make it, and now he’s doing it for her.”
Alexis Purrty was stabbed in July 2007, after a neighborhood youth allegedly stole Lil Frank’s XBOX 360. Alexis went to retrieve the stolen item, and allegedly got into a conflict with the boy and his friends. Later they came to Alexis’ house, and she allegedly was stabbed by the boy.
Kimble said the family made 13 calls to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department about the conflict before the stabbing.
After Alexis was stabbed, Kimble attempted to rush the girl to the hospital but said she was delayed by police, who later brought her daughter’s belongings to her and allegedly told her the girl was dead while they were at the police station.
“Now it is up to y’all to make sure she lives on,” Kimble told Dynasty youth. “Tell her story through your music. Make real music that’s talking about something, not just what you got.”
“Dynasty Hip-Hop Inc. Mentoring Program’s sole purpose is to save youth through a language they understand, hip-hop,” said James Muhammad, cofounder of Dynasty.
“When hip-hop is saying, ‘If you beefing, I got you, shooting, stomping you out, etc.,’ but gives you no reason for the actions. That is a problem. We advise them how to get in touch with the real issues, and how to put in their music.”
Dynasty has partnerships with Trak Starz, who plan to sign some of the youth to recording deals, local radio stations, as well as Nelly and The St. Lunatics’ Derrty Ent, who have been charitable enough to give youth of Dynasty free studio time.
Spud and V.I.P. Records are pushing Lil Frank’s new single, “Do It Big.” To request it at Hot 104.1, call 314-969-1041, or on 100.3 The Beat, call 314-969-1000.
To bring Dynasty to your school or community or for more info, call 314-335-0421 or 243-4722.
Demond Muhammad is cofounder of Dynasty Hip-Hop Inc. Mentoring Program.
