Presented by Liberated Grounds in May 2024, at John Early Middle School Museum in North Nashville, Heal Hop features 24 artworks curated by founding members M.E and Woke3. The exhibition includes works by muralist and studio artist Woke3, photographer John Jo, painter XPayne, and graffiti artists DVMVGEDGXXDS, Haspe, Melo, Jason Cortez, Low Key.

This collection facilitates self-expression in the context of Hip-Hop and Healing

Story of Heal Hop

In a time when most subgenres of Hip-Hop have been leading us to Self Destruction, a small network B-Boys and B-Girls craved something more. In the wake of the great Recession a young group of Hip-Hop lovers began coming together for a weekly Sunday Cypher. This group, referred to at the time simply as the Diatribe, provided a sort of last supper gathering featuring food, fellowship and of course fresh beats and bars. Though everyone who heard of these cyphers were welcome to attend and rip the mic there were a number of regulars that made their presence known. 

Some of those regulars included Xavier Quinn known today as DJ Majik, Mountain Walker, Jo’Shua Odine, Jeni Calhoun and Foundation Mecca to name a few. Over the years the group would rebrand as the Fly-a-Tribe and would move the tradition of the Sunday Cypher forward all across the city to Centennial Park, the Pillars on Jefferson Street, a Cypher West and a Cypher North.

Though the Fly-A-Tribe group never formalized as a musical label or Rap crew, three individuals Foundation Mecca, Ah Deli & Konscience Beatz would go on to formalize a group known as Heru Heru. Heru Heru are recognized as the originators of the term Heal Hop. Socially engineering the concept back in 2012 as a response to Drill Music the group started pushing the concept of the genre as early as 2013 and launched an album entitled Heal Hop officially in 2019. This trio of Heal Hoppers are recognized as the Godfathers of the Movement.  These days you will find Heru Heru spreading the concept of Heal Hop on their ig page, in classrooms and in various podcast & radio interviews. Additionally, Foundation teaches Hip-Hop and music creation with a number of programs in Nashville including Recycle Reinvest & YES Ministries. 

But with that said what exactly is Heal Hop & what is happening with it today?

HEAL HOP is the answer to a culture that has seemingly lost its way,... if you hear mainstream media tell it. The real B Boys and Girls know that in every major city across the nation and many cities across the globe lovers of the art form are coming together to create nourishing & spiritually conscious experiences in the art form. 

From the Sunday Cyphers to the Bang For Liberation Block Party there is a rising undertone for Healing that inspires the creatives of today and seeks to give the children a “Break from the Cocaine and the Kilos” as we hear Lupe Fiasco say in the Roses track of ITAL, Some modern major artists that we recognize as Heal Hoppers would include Lupe, Oshun, Sampha The Great, Stormzy and Dee1. It’s not just about the music created but also elevating a lifestyle that cultivates health conscious & unity conscious youth of the next generation. 

The Heal Hop Movement is a grassroots initiative to put out content and create life bringing experiences that are in alignment with the essence of the Golden Era of Hip Hop, and its earliest roots. This sub genre focuses on raising the voices and stories of people creating unity conscious content. Unity Consciousness is best defined as “a level of vibration that goes beyond the self and reaches the heart and souls of all beings and existence. Unity consciousness manifests as the sense of oneness, compassion, love, and respect, both for human beings and for nature.” 

From the Block Parties to Summits, from Beat Battles to Cyphers, a Heal Hop event is always a life bringing experience. If you resonate with the Heal Hop Vibe stay tuned because there is a lot of expansion on the horizon in the upcoming years. Tap into the Movement!