LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky Sen. Gerald Neal, D-Ky., declared Aug. 11 as “Kentucky Hip-Hop Day.”
Sensei Nowa helps operate the Hip-Hop fraternity in Kentucky by supporting artists and helping to amplify their voices.
“Doing this can help people have a platform that can support and help at a real level,” Nowa explained. “We’re dealing with radio stations in every area in every city: Cincinnati, Lexington, Louisville, Bowling Green.”
Nowa has spent years connecting with Kentucky rappers like Lexington’s “Q-Bizz” and helping them get closer to securing record deals and succeeding in their music careers.
“They push me every day. They call me every day. They call my line making sure I’m doing everything I need to be doing.” Q-Bizz said.
Nowa says the fraternity is an extension of the artists.
“Because we have heavy hitters, we have gatekeepers, we have people like Kentucky engineering. He recorded Meek Mill’s ‘Dreams and nightmares.’ That song has touched every single club in America.”
He says their goals are to unite cities across the commonwealth, give rappers opportunities and show how this state influenced the genre.
2023 is the 50th anniversary of hip hop.
“These individuals have contributed immeasurably to the hip-hop community in Kentucky and have consistently demonstrated consistency, hard work, and commitment to the craft, and to the genre and culture as a whole,” Neal explained as he and the public met with leaders of hip-hop and musicians on the front steps of the capitol.
They looked back on how far hip-hop has come and honored those who paved the way for other artists to follow.