The Health, Hope and Hip Hop Foundation made history this February, hosting its first-ever “Hip Hope Ball: A Celebration to Ignite Change” on the final day of Black History Month.
Source: AllHipHop
The star-studded event brought together Hip-Hop legends and healthcare advocates with a unified mission: raising awareness about multiple myeloma and other cancers in the Black community.
Founded by Oya Gilbert, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in December 2017 after experiencing symptoms for two years, the foundation has become a powerful voice for awareness. Gilbert’s journey from diagnosis to advocacy has positioned him uniquely to leverage Hip-Hop culture for critical health education.
Gilbert’s impact has not just been as a health advocate but also as a MC. Under the moniker Grand G, Gilbert laid groundwork that would influence some of Hip-Hop’s most significant architects, creating a ripple effect throughout the culture that many stars unknowingly benefit from today.
“He made it possible for all of us to believe and to dream,” Young Guru, ROC Nation’s acclaimed engineer and producer, said speaking directly to Gilbert during an emotional moment at the gala. “Whatever you need, I’m there for you. You know why? Because you influenced my life and put me on a path that would lead me to something great.”
In a revealing personal anecdote, Young Guru shared how Gilbert, known then by his rap moniker Grand G, had been an early inspiration.
“When I was 15 years old, I saw somebody that looked like me on the cover of an album,” Young Guru explained, referencing a compilation called Project X. The future Grammy winner recalled begging to visit the studio with Gilbert and his colleagues, an experience that would eventually shape his legendary career.
The evening’s performances elevated the celebration to another level.
Read more at: https://allhiphop.com/news/slick-rick-freeway-more-connect-at-inaugural-hip-hope-ball-to-raise-cancer-awareness/
