“Health has a lot to do with controlling the five senses. If you do not control your five senses, it's almost impossible to stay healthy.” – KRS-ONE (Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone)
Hip Hop has the potential to make people healthier. And when we say that, we are not referencing corny fitness dudes like Shaun T of “Hip Hop abs.” The potential is referring to the healthy ideals of cultural icons in the game. For example, one can easily learn a healthy lifestyle from observing the spiritual focus of a Russell Simmons, the physical dedication of an LL Cool J, or the nutritional practices of a KRS-ONE. In a generation where social media has allowed fans to connect to celebrities like never before, there is a tremendous potential for artists to spread the gospel of healthy living (that is if they choose to be role models). With premature health-related d**hs of some of the game's most respected figures last year (i.e. Heavy D, Nate Dogg), the Hip Hop community has recognized the importance of healthy living more than ever before. In one interview, KRS-ONE offers some scholarly wisdom about the roots of Hip Hop as he says, “Hip Hop is a strategy. If you can just remember this one point. The one point that a lot of people forget is that in the 70's, Hip Hop started as a strategy. It was a strategy to help you have better health, better wealth, and a better awareness of yourself or your environment. It was a strategy.”
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