“WAH WAH WAH … OH RACHET …”
You know the rest, if you know anything about hip-hop in St. Louis.
That’s some of the chorus to Shorty The Prince’s hit that was so popular it spawned a remix. Some wondered how positive an artist with a song like this could be. Cleaning up the language we use about our own people is one of the many works of Dynasty Hip-Hop Inc. Mentoring Program.
“A man can’t be judged for just one work but rather his body of work and his activities,” said Sharieff Muhammad, cofounder of Dynasty Hip-Hop Inc. Mentoring Program.
”In two songs you see change in Shorty, and I can say he positively cares for his community.”
The change Muhammad speaks of is the Atlantic Records artist’s remix, which talks about his finding a good woman who is down for him, loyal and not “rachet” n and he is making that a hit as well.
Recently 100. 3 The Beat’s Prince of the City showed how positive you can be while having two hits songs and a top radio show and sharing a roster with names like T.I. and Plies, by coming to mentor youth at Dynasty.
Dynasty is a non-profit organization that utilizes hip-hop, its culture and its industry to educate, motivate and empower youth with training and skills to become more productive members of society. Dynasty rewards youth with free recording studio time and radio exposure, as well as introductions to the music industry.
“No matter what the situation in your lives, you must remain positive and work hard for what you want,” Shorty told the youth.
“A lot of people say, ‘You on Atlantic Records with T.I. and all them, you got it made.’ No n that means I have to work harder, because they are at the top of their game. I have to push myself for that.”
Shorty is no stranger to hard work, even at a young age. He has been working as an on-air personality at Clear Channel’s 100.3 The Beat since he was a pre-teen.
“You are an example for us,” one Dynasty youth told Shorty.
“Ya’ll in a good position, ya’ll get free studio time, and y’all go to Derrty Ent. too,” Shorty told them. “Y’all just gotta stay out them streets.”
He was referring to Dynasty’s relationship with Nelly and The St. Lunatics’ Derrty Ent., which allows the youth in the program to receive free studio time at their facility, as long as the youth are involved in the program and staying out of trouble.
In the performance segment of the program, one youth, Genai Jones, did so well Shorty said he would collaborate with her on a song.
Shorty showed a great deal of maturity above his years as he advised these young men and women to avoid violence and drugs and to focus on a hard work ethic. Coming from him, whom the youth see as a peer, it means a great deal. He shows that beyond his popularity and budding fame, you must still care for the wellbeing of your people.
To quote The Hon. Min. Louis Farrakhan, “We must accept our responsibility to build our community.”
Dynasty Hip-Hop Inc. Mentoring Program meets at Muhammad Mosque#28, 14O8 N. Kingshighway (TV 46 Roberts Bldg) Tuesdays 5-6 p.m., and on Wednesdays 4:30-6 p.m. at the office of 100 Black Men, 4631 Delmar. For info, call 314-599-1878 or 314-243-4722.
