Hip Hop culture has always been a way of life for Jermaine Fletcher and Jimmie Thomas. They met studying broadcast journalism at Florida A&M University and formed their friendship collaborating on local campus programming. After completing their time at FAMU, Jermaine made his way to Hawaii and Jimmie to Baltimore but they stayed in close contact and in 2009 along with A'sia Horne, they joined forces to create the Curators of Hip Hop (COHH).
"Our mission is to preserve all the elements of hip hop culture on a global scale," said Fletcher. "As COHH grows, we aim to build a digital platform that functions like an online museum." In addition to their digital footprint, Fletcher and Thomas have expanded awareness of COHH by creating live events that educate communities about hip hop culture. And last year, they independently released a documentary film titled, The Curators Vol. 1. A Story of Independence.
COHH Founders: Jermaine Fletcher and Jimmie Thomas
"We created The Curators Vol. 1 as a way for people to learn more about the artists we were documenting: Logic, Prie, Matt Reeves, Ahmad Lewis and Dee-1; and what the Curators of Hip Hop movement stands for," said Fletcher." He continued, "The concept of independence was a factor because of how important the topic has become in hip hop and the music industry as a whole." The film has been featured at the Pan African Film Festival, AC3 Festival and college campuses around the country. In addition to the film gaining attention, the featured artists have benefited as well. Logic, a hip hop artist from Gaithersburg, Maryland, featured in The Curators Vol. 1, signed a recording contract with hip hop industry powerhouse Def Jam.
The COHH are expanding their movement in the U.S. by increasing the number of artists they feature within their online museum and by producing more community events and film screenings, mostly through partnerships with colleges and universities. The COHH has also made global expansion their mission. "Internationally, we're expanding the COHH by covering broader stories and spending time in different hip hop communities around the world to gain an understanding of what makes each place unique," said Fletcher. "This year we filmed at Battle in Shanghai, which is an international hip-hop dance battle that attracts crews from all over the world. By covering events like this, we are able to build connections and content in one place while capturing stories from Brazil, Milan, the United Kingdom, and more because of the diversity at these global events."
Jimmie and Jermaine believe that there is a need for continual education within the hip hop community. The target of "What is hip hop culture?" is always changing and because of that, the culture is faced with a growing definition. "Hip Hop is one of the most powerful movements in the world," said Fletcher. "It's important for the people who care about the culture to always keep note of this and take ownership of its destiny. I believe that because the culture is growing at such a fast rate, it's vulnerable to false representation."
In order to take control of its own destiny, COHH launched a "Curators Ambassador" program that allows other hip hop curators from around the world to share their talent and become partners in creating content for the online museum. COHH have Ambassadors in global locations such as: Italy, Taiwan, Africa, and South American. In addition, there is a steadily growing list of U.S. Ambassadors places like: Florida, New York, Hawaii, and LA.
Throughout the remainder of 2015, COHH will continue to promote The Curators Vol. 1. while currently filming Vol. 2. "Hip Hop is best shown through the art of the people," said Fletcher. "We want to expand the quality and quantity of what true hip hop fans can view and hear. It's our hope that they are inspired by our content.
Follow the Curators of Hip Hop at: www.thecohh.com