Reverend Conrad Tillard
In the past, hip-hop was a tool for education and knowledge. Logically speaking, the next step is to influence the political landscape. Diddy stands for initiatives like “vote or die”, and Russell Simmons joins Dr. Ben Chavis to present his highly visible hip-hop summit to the rap community. But there are more stories.
Rev. Conrad Tillard is the ISIS Conrad Muhammad and has long been the voice of change in the black community. Whether as Harlem’s activist or as a minister on the podium, Tillard witnessed the lowest point of culture, including the rise and fall of some of the most powerful figures in hip-hop. Tillard believes his efforts in hip-hop have been removed from history.
In a recent conversation with Allhiphop, how Pastor Tillard was removed from history. “A lot of people try to write it out of history, but our work in Harlem has had a big impact,” he said.
The Origin of Hip Hop Political Power – and Its Fight
While most people associate hip-hop’s political engagement with modern sports and movements like rock voting or Diddy’s voting or death, Tillard asserts that he laid the foundation a few years ago. In the late 1990s, he became the first Neui minister at Harvard Theological School, despite being still a member of the ISIS. He also attended classes at Kennedy Administration School, where a mission challenged him to form an organization.
He had already thought of a vision, and he created a movement for change that was committed to using hip-hop as a political force. “Hip-hop is always political, but not in an electoral sense,” Tillard explained. “No one said, ‘We will vote for so-and-so’, or ‘We will organize to use our powers.'”
He immediately called industrial giants like Simmons and Sean Diddy “mobilize hip-hop” as the political crowd. His slogan? “The hand that once scratched the turntable will one day choose the president.” He admits that the sentence was inspired by Jesse Jackson’s 1984 campaign: “The hand that once chose cotton will one day choose the president.” This works.
But according to Tillard, his thoughts (once they all became meticulous and meticulous).
Did the hip-hop tycoon steal Tillard’s movement of change?
Pastor Tillard recalls the initial support of Russell Simmons, Diddy, and others, but tensions emerged in terms of political loyalty.
“Russell wants to deliver the hip-hop generation to Democrats,” he revealed. “Our leaders always have this impulse to organize us politically, but the only purpose is to hand us over to Democrats.”
He disagrees.
Tillard insists that hip-hop needs to remain independent and use its influence to get the best deals for the community – no political parties. “In any other area of life, you are not submissive. Why, politically, you suddenly become a “good boy” for Democrats?” he said, becoming more and more active.
Hip Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) was founded in 2001 by Dr. Benjamin Chavis, co-founder of DEF JAM Recordings and a long-time civil rights activist and former NAACP executive director. Hsan was created as a non-profit, non-partisan organization to promote civic participation, social responsibility and empowerment. Although it seems to be biased towards liberal politics and policy, it has never been formally carried out.
Eventually, Simmons, Diddy and others “opposed” him in the early 2000s, trying to take over the movement, Tillard said.
“I’m fighting with everyone and some ministers who came in with them,” he said. Chavis worked closely with Simmons. Tillard said, instead of fighting, it caused him to walk away.
“Once, I just let it go,” he said. “I think we’ve made an impact. We’ve built the template.”
Tillard’s influence is undeniable. For the layman, he is a strong, strong and wise voice of rationality. His “change movement” laid the foundation for the growing role of hip-hop in politics, inspired by hip-hop activities.
“When you see people like AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) and others, that’s a direct result,” he said.
In the current situation of the former rap tycoon
Tillard stays straight when it comes to the current form of the former hip-hop tycoon.
“I can’t see them,” he said. “Obviously, Russell was in prison with his brother Diddy in Bali. The last time I saw his brother Diddy was at the funeral of Heavy D.”
Tillard mentions Suge Knight as another cautionary tale from past interactions with industry figures.
“I met him in ’93 and I told Suge, ‘You’re an incredible person. I respect you. But if you don’t stop, you’re going to destroy everything you build.'” he said.
Suge Knight’s bid was recently sentenced to 28 years in prison.
Dangers: Death, Prison and Lost Legacy
Tillard sees an unsettling pattern among hip-hop trailblazers – building an empire that only loses it through self, arrogance, and hedonism.
“What hurts me is that all these tycoons built these huge businesses and created voices for the African-American community. But because we were blinded by arrogance and lost our sense of mission, we were wasted it.”
He likens the cycle to the tragic rise of Tupac Shakur.
“PAC showed up through a cheated mother,” he said. “He became the most famous artist in the United States at the time. However, he died like a normal gang explosion.”
lesson? Success is not enough: “Even if we win, we have to figure out how to win.”
Go to Didi’s party
Continuous speculation surrounding leaked tapes and past events, Tillard carefully addressed his experience.
“Yes, I went to some Diddy parties, but I didn’t attend that kind. I always went with my brothers, so I had witnesses and I went in and out.”
As someone who interacts with hip-hop while maintaining the moral compass, Tillard sees himself as a bridge between culture and faith.
“That’s one thing,” he said. “I’m always involved in culture, but I know where I am as minister.”
While hip-hop has made undeniable progress, Tilard warns that the community still has work to do.
“We’re still climbing up,” he concluded. “We have a lot of work to do. We’re vomiting and raining when we can enrich and help our black colleges, our institutions and build new knowledge.”
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