Minister Server Tavares for many years developing hip-hop culture and developing yourself along with it. He is a member of multiple organizations, the most famous of which are the Universal Zulu Nation and the Temple of Hip Hop. Minister Server Tavares talked about how to build the Temple of Hip Hop and the book ÂŤThe Gospel of Hip HopÂť, and his vision of hip-hop culture. This interview is a view on hip-hop from the standpoint of the person for whom it has become a way of being and thinking. 001
You are the official representative of the Universal Zulu Nation and the Temple of Hip Hop. Tell us about yourself and how you came to these organizations. I am Minister Server, the Hip Hop Life Coach; I was born and raised in Atlantic City, NJ. I've been involved with Hip Hop since I was 13 years old; I was a rapper in High School. I was a DJ in college, after graduating from college in 1987, I moved to Atlanta, GA. In 1992 I started working with Nation Time Syndicate, Inc.; a Hip Hop collective in Atlanta made up of rappers, DJs, graffiti artists, writers, producers, activists, photographers, organizers, promoters, teachers and many others. I worked in several capacities with NTS and learned a lot about the true essence of Hip Hop culture, which gave me the foundation to do the work I currently do. I became involved with the Temple Of Hip Hop in 2001, in 2003, while still a student in ministry school, I was asked by TOHH founder, Hip Hop pioneer/legend KRS-One, to become the lead minister of the Temple Of Hip Hop and help to organize the movement. Although I respected the teachings of the Universal Zulu Nation for many years; in 2003 I officially became involved with the UZN. In 2009, I became the spiritual advisor for the UZN Atlantis Chapter, which serves the Atlanta area. In 2012, I was appointed as the UZN District Manager for the State of Georgia, which is the current position I'm in. Many people have never heard of the Temple of Hip Hop. Tell us more about this organization. Founded in 1996 by Hip Hop pioneer and legend KRSONE; the Temple Of Hip Hop is an international ministry, archive, school and society (M.A.S.S.) movement that teaches Hip Hop beyond entertainment. The TOHH promotes and preserves Hip Hop's accumulated historical/cultural/spiritual wisdom for the purpose of empowering the Hip Hoppa and guiding the Hip Hop nation. Hip Hop is a term that describes our independent collective consciousness. Ever growing, it is commonly expressed through such elements as Breakin, Emceein, Graffiti Art, Deejayin, Beatboxin, Street Fashion, Street Language, Street Knowledge and Street Entrepreneurialism. The TOHH is beyond race, religion, ethnicity, gender, class and sexual orientation. The TOHH expresses Hip Hop as a unique way of life that promotes health, love, awareness and wealth (HLAW). The TOHH is not a place, a fan club, entertainment corporation or religious organization. The TOHH is a movement of conscious people who are committed to using Hip Hop as a life-strategy for spiritual enlightenment, creative expression and selfempowerment. What do I need to become a representative of the Temple of Hip Hop? Although KRS-ONE is the founder and Teacha; there are no leaders of the Temple of Hip Hop. From the time you enter your temple of Hip Hop with the "vow I am Hip Hop", you are expected to initiate your own self study into Hip Hop Kulture, its meaning and purpose for your life and the
spiritual essence of the Gospel of Hip Hop. Currently, Temple of Hip Hop is not an organization with an official membership? And plans to soon introduce in it official membership, for example Universal Zulu Nation? From my understanding, there are conversations about creating a formal process to become an official member of the TOHH, however, I'm not sure what they are or when it will happen. Who is working on the official site of Temple of Hip Hop. Tell us more about this project. What material do you plan to publish on the site. Will online store? I'm not sure who is currently working on the "official" TOHH website at this time. When it's completed, I'm sure there will be an online store where people can purchase books, CDs, DVDs, T-Shirts, etc. What is Hip Hop for you? How you saw it in his youth, and how do you see it now? For me, Hip Hop is a consciousness, a state of being, my culture, a way of life and how spirit expresses through me. When I was a youth, although I loved being was a rapper and DJ I didn't really understand what Hip Hop culture was or the influence it would have on my life. When I started working with Nation Time, it gave me a deeper understand of what Hip Hop culture was and how it could be used to enlighten, inspire and empower myself and others, especially the youth. Now Hip Hop Kulture is a part of my everyday life; from how I raise my children, the work I do as a minister, teacher and Hip Hop Life Coach. You are one of the co-authors of the book "The Gospel of Hip Hop". What for you is this book? Well, I'm just one of many spiritual contributors to the GOHH, the bulk of the book was of course written by KRS-One, the Teacha! I truly appreciate him giving me the opportunity to be a part of such a historical book. I believe every Hip Hoppa or anyone interested in Hip Hop should buy the GOHH, it's really a great book! What inspired its creation? The book was inspired by KRS-One, it's really written for the next generation of Hip Hoppas so they will have a blueprint of how to live a spiritual Hip Hop lifestyle and not have to rely on people outside of our culture to attempt to explain our way of thinking, living and being. Who worked on the book, and how long you have to create it? Over the years, many people worked on the book like Professor Z; Malik-One; Dr. Jah Jah Shakur and Kurt Nice and, just to name a few of the contributors, they are listed in the GOHH. It took over seven years to complete the GOHH; there were several different versions from various perspectives, before it was finally released to the public in 2009!
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KRS-One in his lectures often use Hip Hop as a synonym for all of human culture. What, then, separates Hip Hop from many other areas of culture, created by people for different centuries? I believe what separates Hip Hop from other cultures is our ability to use the best aspects of various cultures and convert them into Hip Hop! Hip Hop Kulture gives people the opportunity, respect and encouragement to be their authentic selves without needing to fit into a box, regardless of their race, religion, class or creed, it allows you to grow and fulfill your divine purpose! How do you see yourself ratio of different spheres of culture, different trends in world culture? I am a world citizen and according to the United Nations, Hip Hop is the fastest growing culture in the world! Everywhere there are people on the planet Earth, Hip Hop is there, which means I can travel all around as Hip Hop and be accepted! What it takes place in Hip Hop? We are a very young culture that is learning, growing and uniting with each other on a daily basis! For example, there will be many Hip Hoppas on the other side of the world that I have never met, but they will read your magazine and learn about Hip Hop because of the work you are doing, that's powerful, Word!
What projects in the Universal Zulu Nation and the Temple of Hip Hop are you working now? Right now I'm working with Hip Hoppas around the world to get ready to celebrate the 18th Annual Hip Hop Appreciation Week, which is May 17-23, 2015, our theme is INTEGRITY! I'll send you the 2015 HHAW message that I send out every year to encourage Hip Hoppas around the world to celebrate HAW and share it with their community! What would you like to change in the policy of Universal Zulu Nation and the Temple of Hip Hop? No, I believe both groups serve an important purpose for the individuals that are involved with them. What do you think is the main difference between these organizations? The UZN is the foundation of Hip Hop culture; it's the first Hip Hop organization in the world so anything any person or organization does, is built on their foundation! The TOHH is focused on teaching the spiritual aspects of how to "BE" Hip Hop and how to live a positive lifestyle that we can pass on to future generations forever, Word!
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