By Silent_Ron
What is the definition of 'edutainment'? Hip Hop legend, KRS-One defines it as a form of entertainment designed to educate as well as to amuse. But the streets of New Jersey would define it as Larry "Lak" Henderson- an entrepreneur, CEO of Smart Music Entertainment, producer, and Hip Hop artist. With his debut CD entitled, Lesson One: Hip Hop and Education, Mr. Henderson is using his rapping ability to make his listeners bop their heads and also learn something in the process. Check out how Mr. Henderson is taking the reigns from the "higher powers" who control Hip Hop and bringing it back to it's original essence. Learn about his roots and how he turned his dreams into a reality.
What was your childhood like growing up in New Jersey
My childhood was that of a typical young man growing up in the urban areas of central Jersey . I moved around a lot and stayed with different family members. I did not get into that much trouble. I was a fan of hip-hop music.
When and what made you start rapping?
I started rhyming in the third grade lunchroom – making beats on the cafeteria tables, free styling and beat boxing. I was fascinated by the art of free styling. I thought it was cool that someone could make a rhyme out of their surroundings.
Who are your some of your Hip Hop influences?
LL Cool J, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Chuck D, Biz Markie, Slick Rick, KRS-One and Ice Cube.
What made you go the conscious route because many conscious rappers have a hard time breaking through into the mainstream world?
I don’t consider myself to be a conscious rapper. I consider myself to be a rap artist that rhymes about relevant things in my life. I try to live my life overall as a positive brother and my rhymes reflect that. I would not put myself in any particular box because I’ve had various experiences and all of those experiences create different pictures and different forms of music.
Are you afraid that people will not want to listen to your music because you are not rapping about the usual topics that rappers on the radio talk about?
No. The only thing I can control is the music that I create, and hopefully, people will gravitate towards the sounds that I put out.
What makes you different from the other conscious rappers such as Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and KRS-One?
I wouldn’t say that I’m different, but I would say that this album, Lesson One: Hip-Hop and Education, is different because there is no other hip hop education album out. That alone sets me apart from everyone else.
What if a "gangsta rapper" wants to make a track with you, will you be open to it?
I’ve already recorded songs with those that one may consider gangsta. That doesn’t influence what I say, but real recognizes real and as long as you stay true to yourself and true to your own sounds, you can hop on a track with anyone.
What steps did you take to become the CEO of Smart Music Entertainment?
Smart Music Entertainment is the product of me, the hip hop artist, colliding with me, the reader. In the fourth grade, my aunt made me do a book report on the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. While I didn’t quite understand the significance of what I was reading at that time, I was inspired by what I did understand in his story to want to read more and more. It became a passion of mine to start seeking out knowledge about black history. I can say that a reader was born from that Frederick Douglass book report. I read everything from religion and politics and everything in between – fiction, non-fiction, autobiographies, conspiracy theories and the list goes on.
The first two educational hip-hop songs that I recorded were “First 25 Presidents” and “Invent.” There was a lot of research that went into both of those songs. For “First 25 Presidents,” I happened to be reading a book about America U.S.
Once I recorded the tracks I was impressed with the sound. It’s important to me that these songs still sound like hardcore hip-hop music and that the soul isn’t missing and that I’m not sounding too preachy. The songs on Lesson One: Hip-Hop and Education blends underground hip-hop tracks with educational lyrics. That’s the album that gave birth to Smart Music Entertainment.
Once I came up with the concept that a hardcore hip hop education album is possible to do, I formed a team of likeminded individuals.
What is the objective of Smart Music Entertainment?
The objective of Smart Music Entertainment is to promote education and to stress the importance of learning. Hip hop influences today’s youth in a variety of ways – from the way they dress to how they behave to the way they talk and dance. The mainstream media has called it the most important youth culture on the planet. This gives hip hop artists a huge platform to use their music to positively influence young minds. I want to help lead that movement.
Smart Music also offers youth workshops where students have the opportunity to participate in a discussion about the importance of education, watch us perform songs from the Lesson One CD and engage in dialogue with each other about facts learned from each song. We send them home with the CD and a study guide to help them digest the music on their own and continue the learning beyond our workshops.
How do you wear so many hats from being a CEO, producer, and artist?
I think it’s important to be involved in every aspect of the business as well as in the music making process and the sound that I want to create. I have a talented team that I work closely with from music producers to other recording artists, graphic designers, film and video producers and marketing executives.
What topics do you talk about on your album, "Lesson One: Hip Hop and Education"?
What is your favorite song on your album?
They are all my favorites, and there are two songs that seem to be especially impactful. One is “Slavery.” It’s a very hard track. We approach slavery in such a way that you’re almost going back and reliving it.
Another is “Kings & Queens.” It’s an uplifting song about our African history. I start the song off by saying “We don’t come from slaves, but from enslaved Africans.” I wanted to highlight our history and how we were Africans before we were African-Americans. It’s important for our people to remember that.
What background/knowledge do you have in the record label business?
I have a lot of knowledge about music in general having worked on countless musical projects, and I also have knowledge about the business side of things having interned at various major record companies and owning my own label.
What types of artist are you looking for on your label?
We want to work with like minded artists to put out unique, informative musical projects. We’re looking for talent, creativity, and artists who are willing to try new things with sounds.
How can an artist get in contact with you to be on your label?
Email: SmartHipHopMusic@gmail.com
Twitter: @SmartHipHop
Website: SmartHipHopMusic.blogspot.com
Facebook: SmartMusicEntertainment or LarryLakHenderson
YouTube: SmartHipHopMusic
Are you going to put the same type of pressure that you put on yourself, on your artists?
Yes. I work hard to maintain the integrity and lyrical quality of Smart Music Entertainment and I wouldn’t expect anything less from anyone that I work with or affiliate myself with.
I see that you were an on-air radio personality at Rutgers , do you have any aspirations of creating your own radio show?
No, but I do have aspirations of one day owning a radio station that dedicates itself to playing hip hop music, and I don’t necessarily mean XM Radio, I mean an FM station that offers a variety of hip-hop, from old school to new.
What is the message you want people to receive from your music?
I want people to understand the importance of education. I want people to understand that hip hop can be used in positive ways.
What advice would you give other aspiring entrepreneurs?
Education is the key to entrepreneurship, and creating your own job is so important in this economy. In order to run your own business you have to know how to handle money, how to put together a plan, how to market yourself, how to set goals, and the list goes on. A college education and advanced degrees helps prepare you for that. There’s no substitute for knowledge.
Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
In the long term, Smart Music Entertainment will not only be a musical movement, but will expand to projects that reach beyond just music – books, plays, films. Our goal is to promote education while entertaining.
Contact:
Email: SmartHipHopMusic@gmail.com
Twitter: @SmartHipHop
Website: SmartHipHopMusic.blogspot.com
Facebook: SmartMusicEntertainment or LarryLakHenderson
YouTube: SmartHipHopMusic
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