what does hip hop mean to you ?

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when younger
hip hop was a channel
through which i found myself
my older brother introduced me
became addicted
in high school
could not be found
without headphones transporting me
to another space & time
of hip hop
filtering out & finding emcees
that spoke truths to me
deejays that rocked & moved me
at the heart
a soundtrack & style of life
began to breathe it
to this rhythm i walked
soon found the source of the beat
pumping & circulating my blood
from within
hip hop started a dialogue
opening a window of
passage over a bridge
expressway
to a free way
i started writing poetry
to be spoken
to be living
connecting to the outside
drumming internal rhyme schemes
flowing trains of thought
developing metaphor
i found my voice
at this time i would go
with my homegirl to
break dance comps & although
i never really danced much-
usually took photos
carefully watching & observing
this soul expression
physical translation of the music-
i found community
an understanding of this powerful movement
we were a part of
this beat is in my heart
still moves inside me to rise with it
over the hate
often claimed in its name
& forward to innovate
illuminate my truths
& spread the love
through art
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