Is your swagger enough to make it in the real world?

Hip Hop Summit Gives Tools to Succeed

"Is your swagger enough to make it in the real world?”

By: Juliann Weston

A panel of entertainment industry leaders and professionals dropped positive seeds for success to youths at the 1st Annual Hackensack African American Civic Association Hip Hop Summit held on Saturday afternoon April 30th at the Hackensack High School.

The purpose of the three hour event was to give youths a platform to express themselves, search within and glean from those who’ve been where they are but made a plan to succeed and worked it.

Panelist included Grammy nominated R&B artist Marc Dorsey, musician Rufus Jackson, record company executive Dwayne McClary, NY entertainment attorney Duane Harley and hip hop artist Lady Luck Jones who opened their lives up for real talk.

Using hip hop as the way in, this year’s theme asked the question ‘Is your swagger enough to make it in the real world?” Three questions were raised: 1) who are you really as a person (not what others say you are), 2) who do you want to become and 3) how do you get there (have a plan).

The future artists in the audience took the opportunity to ask questions about breaking into the entertainment business, sustaining their individuality and even deeper questions such as the rampant “n” word use and negative representation of women in the industry.

Wanting to bridge the gap of communication, the panel answered every question with honesty in hope that everyone would leave the event with a better understanding of the business side of entertainment -encouraging them to read and research history. “Read. Read. Read!” exclaimed Lady Luck Jones…”you have to know the business.”

Musician Rufus Jackson – who worked with Grammy award winner Alicia Keys on her ‘Songs in A Minor’ album and many others – spoke passionately about building relationships that create opportunities for a successful career path. Being in the right place and cultivating the right relationships still moves him forward.

Jacinta Hall, 16, thought the opportunity to hear from people who work behind the scenes grabbed her attention. She stated, “I don’t like how women are portrayed in hip hop and I’m glad I came to hear them. I knew it would be interesting.”

Hip hop has a wide range of areas to it other than music – fashion, art, hair, make-up etc. – where more opportunities to break into the business can be obtained. The music, however, is the driving force behind the $10 billion phenomenon run by corporations with nothing other than money as its motivator.

What is being created in a negative way (aggressive gang banger misogynous stereotypes) can be turned around by the artists and the buying public. “When you create truthful art, then it won’t be corrupted by commercialism.” Attorney Duane Harley stated.

How do you find your swagger? The ‘swagger’ is that something else inside of all of us that push us forward. It’s that motor that helps us to become whomever and whatever we want.

“Kids have a twisted view of success because of the images they see.” stated moderator Walter Fields CEO of Northstarnews.com. He continued, “You have to determine for yourself what success is and don’t let others define it for you.”

The session ended with a surprise performance by Lady Luck Jones along with Hackensack grown rapper Randy “Brand New Jersey” Hale as DJ Scoop spun. For more information on the HAACA, visit them at www.haaca.org.

Randy “Brand New Jersey” Hale

Walter Fields CEO of Northstarnews.com

Lady Luck Jones along with Hackensack grown rapper Randy “Brand New Jersey” Hale



Grammy nominated R&B artist Marc Dorsey, musician Rufus Jackson, record company executive Dwayne McClary, NY entertainment attorney Duane Harley and hip hop artist Lady Luck Jones (not at table)