Hip Hop Handbook

K-12

Hip Hop Handbook is a company of professionally acclaimed performance artists turned educators, dedicated to teaching the history and positive aspects of hip hop culture. People of all ages have an opportunity to experience and enjoy urban music and dance in a positive format. Each workshop is fun and engaging, and uses a combination of tested educational techniques to appeal to auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners.

Each presentation is interactive and includes one or more of these elements of hip hop: history, music, dance, and visual arts. The overall theme of each Hip Hop Handbook program can be customized to complement your school’s curriculum. Core themes and subjects can include: Respect, Positivity, Mathematics, Literacy, Science, Arts and Humanities, Character Development, Anti-Bully, Red Ribbon, Diversity, Physical Health, and more.

• Watch New Video from SchoolTube
• Video
• Datasheet (PDF)
• The Hip Hop Handbook Study Guide (PDF)

Choose from one of several Hip Hop Handbook programs:

“Hip Hop Basics”
Grade Level:     Kindergarten-12th
Capacity:     400 students
Length:     45-50 minutes
Custom tailored for various age groups, this showcase is well suited for large assemblies. The performance includes dance performances, lectures, and skits that take the audience on a journey through the history of Hip Hop. The show focuses on connecting Hip Hop elements with positive skills and concepts including:  basic math, respect for others, and cultural diversity.  Volunteers are selected from the audience to learn the basics of break-dancing and DJ-ing, culminating in a final routine on stage! This program is sure to have your students smiling, dancing, and learning!

“Hip Hop 3B Performance”
Grade Level:     Kindergarten-Middle School
Capacity:     400 students
Length:     45-50 minutes
Focusing on character building, this show is all about the 3B's: BE WISE, BE RESPECTFUL, and BE HEALTHY. We demonstrate how each virtue is represented by one of Hip Hop's elements: DJ-ing, MC-ing, and Dancing. We use crowd participation, hands-on-learning, and dynamic dance routines to show how these 3B's form the path to success!

“Hip Hop Dance Workshop”
Grade Level:     Kindergarten-12th
Capacity:     30 students
Length:     45 minutes-2 hours, based on school’s time availability
Requirements: Dance studio, stage, gymnasium, or multi-purpose room with dance-suitable floor. All students must wear dance appropriate clothing and sneakers!

Specially tailored to be suitable for varying age groups, Hip Hop Handbook dance instructors  us their studio and school teaching experience to teach the basics of break dancing in a safe and engaging format.  These workshops are great for dance teams, gym classes, or any groups of students that want to begin the original dance of Hip Hop or even just want to get a dynamic workout! If we are already at your institution to perform a show, the workshops are extremely affordable!

“Hip Hop School Dance DJ Service”
Hip Hop Handbook is also prepared to come to your school dance or event to provide DJ services. We play only G-rated music while staying within the popular genre of Hip Hop. We are prepared to bring all sound equipment plus dancers and MC's to keep the party hype!  Cost varies according to performance requirements.

Credits
To date, Hip Hop Handbook has performed in over 500 shows in 40 at nearly 85,000 miles per academic year. To date, they have performed for over 250,000 Kindergarten through College age students.

The Hip Hop Handbook opened for the band MxPx at the Microsoft Zune’s 2008 corporate holiday event, after receiving an incredible response at the 2007 Zune holiday event performing in conjunction with Biz Markie. In 2009, Hip Hop Handbook toured rural and urban Vietnam performing and educating impoverished and at-risk youth.
 

Testimonials

The Hip Hop handbook was absolutely awesome!!  The kids loved it and had a wonderful time! Even the Principal got up and danced!  Steve, Breeze & Ookie were wonderful, they made it so much fun!  I would definitely recommend them to my friends in other schools!
Kim Sorenson
Conerly Road Elementary School
Somerset, NJ

This exceeded my expectations.  The artists were dynamic and engaging.  The youth truly appreciated the opportunity.
Matthew Bryan
Art-Reach
Philadelphia, PA

Our students have expressed that they very much enjoyed the show!
The performers were wonderful, talented and very professional. Some of our students, who normally do not volunteer, were eager to raise their hand and show off some of their own moves! Our school thanks you for offerring such a fantastic opportunity!
Denise Crowe
Kendall Schools
Kendall, NY

Kids LOVED it! ... Very educational too!
Rose Ann Smisko
North East MS
Bethlehem, PA

Students, teachers, and administrators enjoyed this performance. High energy and fascinating to learn the history of hip hop.
Barbara Haney
Grace Church School
New York, NY

Excellent show.  The kids really loved interacting with the performers.  Very entertaining and I loved the way it taught the respect piece.
Alethea Forcier
Bernon Heights Elementary
Woonsocket, RI

The students loved this show!  They loved seeing all the different types of dancing and learning about each one.
Nina Pratowski
Conshohocken ES
Conshohocken, PA

Great job! Very professional and the students loved it!
Michelle Schultze
RICA
Rockville, MD

Hip Hop Handbook was a GREAT performance!!!!  Our entire campus enjoyed them!!!
Katrina Hunt
Thomas ES
Plano, TX

The children are still raving about the show.  Thank you Academic Entertainment.
Ty Lytle
JC Parks ES
Indian Head, MD

I will type something more complete that you could use to help in advertising on Monday, but I wanted to let you know Hip Hop Handbook was amazing!!! Our kids LOVED it!  The guys were entertaining, fun, professional and so nice!!!  THANK YOU!!  I believe I will be contacting you again soon to set up a date to have them back for our event again next year!!
Shannon Pruitt
Ocean City HS
Ocean City, NJ

The students loved the assembly.  What wonderful energy the dancers brought to our school.  Thanks.
Christine Ashby
Accident ES
Accident, MD

The guys were awesome!  All our campers got into the program!  Our sister group even joined us for the day and it was the first time both camps really got into an all camp program.  The guys did a great job of giving our campers the history of hip hop, letting the girls help, and teaching them some new moves. I highly recommend this group to your camp.  Consider doing the hip hop workshop for your older campers.  They can take up to 50 at a time!
Janet Henry
Lake Rickabear Girl Scout Camp
Kinnelon, NJ

Kids absolutely loved it!  Entertaining from beginning to end.
Jennifer McCarter
Brown ES
Reedsville, PA

On behalf of everyone here at Flood Brook School in Londonderry, VT, I'd like to give a huge shout out of appreciation and respect!  You guys in the "Hip Hop Handbook" did a sensational job working with our kids and staff and left a lasting positive impression of what hip hop really is on our school!  Thanks so much!
Mike Turk
Flood Brook School
Londonderry, VT

We got a lot of good feedback from the 7th graders after our show.  They said they liked the music, they liked the learning about the history of Hip Hop. I received alot of thumbs up as they were heading back to their classes.  The two gentlemen did a great job of keeping the students attention, also the some of the teachers really got into the music.  Great show and hopefully we'll be able to bring them back next year for our 7th graders.  Thank you!
Carol Foley
DuBois Area MS
DuBois, PA

Our students really enjoyed the show, and we got alot of positive feedback from them.  The music and dance did a great job of capturing their attention.  Our principal was really happy to have you come present to our students. Thank you.
Lorena Ramirez
East Montana MS
El Paso, TX

They delivered a great show.  My students are all still saying, "Hip Hop is all about RESPECT"!
Christine French
Turner ES
Wilkinsburg, PA

I heard very positive feedback from both the students and the staff.  I received emails thanking the PTA for arranging the assembly and that it was the best assembly EVER!  Thanks!
Jody Contreras
Bannon Creek ES
Sacramento, CA

Great skills!   Great message on Respect for our students as relating to not 
abusing your body with tobacco, drugs or alcohol.  Performers were excellent and had a great rapport with their audience.  Thanks for suggesting them to me last spring. 
Barbara Xavier
Garden School
Tulare, CA

This show captured the attention of the students from the time they entered
the performance area!  The teachers couldn't help but engage - SUCH ENERGY!  
Professional, intelligent and FUN!  Don't miss it!
Janet Peralta, Cultural Arts Chair.
South Bosque ES
Waco, TX

Great assembly! Great guys! Easy to set up! Fun for the kids!  The teachers got a big kick out of it and the fact the "respect" message came across loud and clear. The kids participation was great and left everyone very energized. Thank you!
Ann Lockyer
Stanwich School
Greenwich, CT

The school really enjoyed the performers!  Once again it was a great experience for us.
Jill Baumgardner
Gainesville, GA

I am sorry it took me so long to write you about the amazing Hip Hop performance at our school!!  We just loved it! The kids were so responsive and the administration was so impressed by how personable, professional and interesting the two guys were.  They were wonderful.  They worked really hard for an hour for each of our three shows to include the kids, teach history of hip hop and perform their own remarkable dances. Through it all they referred to respect and modeled it.  I couldn't recommend them enough.  I wish them the greatest of success!
Jeriann Tucker
Nichols Middle School
Middleboro, MA

The Hip Hop Handbook totally blew the students and faculty away! All were energized and found the assembly worthwhile.  This assembly was well worth waiting for! I would have them back in a second!!!
Otis Wirth - G & T Coor.
Alton Central School
Alton, NH

So many of our kids could relate to this program.  It allowed the kids to see a style of dance that they don\'t normally see in dance class.  I was able to refer to the program in class with choreographic principles such as call and response that we cover in class.
Meredith Raynor
Windsor Hill ES
North Charleston, SC

The two young men who entertained our students were personable as well as talented.  Our students and staff were energized and educated.  The participation of our students was so exciting.  Thanks!
Judy Whitson
TC Cherry ES
Bowling Green, KY

It was a fabulous program - the kids said it was their favorite one!
Amy Denenberg
Hilldale ES
Pine Brook, NJ

Just wanted to let you know the Hip Hop Handbook Assembly was awesome!  The guys did a great job and the students loved it.  The workshops worked out well also.  The students were practicing their moves all afternoon.  Thanks so much!
Toni Nelson - Instructional Assistant
Grant Watts Elementary
Scappoose, OR 

The show was fabulous. The gentleman were wonderful to deal with and interacted well with the students.
Kevin Wiltshire, Principal
West Intermediate School
Mt. Pleasant, MI

Brad-our kids loved the Hip Hop Handbook show! They cheered, yelled, danced, and more importantly learned a little about respect and some music history.
Judy Whitson
T. C. Cherry Elementary School
Bowling Green, KY

Dynamic, entertaining, great history of how hip hop came to be. Related well with the audience of all ages. GREAT JOB!
Lauren Brown
Potosi Elementary School
Potosi, MO

Program was excellent! Our students loved it. Not only was it entertaining, but it offered information on the history of Hip Hop. Communication regarding the event was smooth and well done.
Darlene Milner
Pinewood Elementary School
North Lauderdale, FL

Talent was OUTSTANDING! Pace was great, kept everyone's attention. Great message.
Steve Kindy
Lakeview Middle School
Battle Creek, MI

My students really enjoyed the program. They were amazed with the talent of the guys and were interested in the history of hip hop. They really enjoyed it when students got to go up and do some aspects of hip hop, especially the dancing. The music used was great for the adults--who doesn't love disco?!
Mary Stallman
St. Joseph Parish School
Grafton, WI

All students that I spoke to were very complimentary of the performance. I also heard several students comment on things that they learned such as types of record scratching. Teachers that I spoke to reported that they thought this was the best Arts and Humanities activity that our school has ever had. Thanks so much for a wonderful performance!!!!
Patricia Richardson
Wayne County High School
Monticello, KY

A very exciting, high energy assembly! The format included excellent audience participation for all grade levels, K-6.
Stephanie Smolen
Briarcrest Elementary School
Shoreline, WA

Great show; high level of student involvement! I would have them back again! Students rated this the best show ever.
Linda Haske
Charlestown Elementary School
Charlestown, MD

WOW! This assembly came highly recommended by Academic Entertainment and I can see why. The 6th and 7th graders LOVED it! They did an excellent job of teaching the kids the history of Hip Hop. You could feel the energy and excitement as soon as you entered the gym. The students especially loved being selected to demonstrate what they had learned with a little beat box competition, hip hop dancing, and scratching at the DJ turntable. The performers were professional, personable and very entertaining. We wish them all the best and hope to have them back at our school in the future.
Melissa Reinhardt
Warren County Middle School
Front Royal, VA

WOW! The performers were enthusiastic and had a very high level of energy which captured the audience! They worked in Art, PE, Social Studies, Music, Dance, and other subject areas to make it fun and educational! Many students were able to participate and VERY positive feedback was received from students, staff, and administration. It was GREAT!!! Highly recommended!
Michele Hood
Roscoe Central School
Roscoe, NY

The presenters were engaging, entertaining and energetic. These are all of the ingredients needed to have a suuccessful middle school assembly. Thank you!
Kathy Gorski
Central Middle School
Branchburg, NJ

Performers were upbeat, professional and perfect for our sixth grade students! We loved it!
David Welch
Bennet Academy
Manchester, CT

Our students loved the music, the dancing and acrobatics, but most of all loved being included in the performance, which Justin and his partners did with skill. The program was just the right length and gave students some background on where Hip Hop came from. Our students were hooked! The performers were able to work the message of respect into the act as well. Thank you!
Mary Jolles
Colebrook Elementary School K - 8
Colebrook, NH

The kids have not stopped talking about it all day!! It fit perfectly into our Winter Carnival Week and as an inspiration to participate in our Poetry Slam. There was a great multicultural feel for us in central NH. It had just enough of a risque flair to impress the kids, but they had a wonderful message about connecting math and music and words and rhythm. It was great. Our 8th graders have not been so attentive in an assembly all year!!! I wish them much success in the future. The team willingly integrated our students into the program and had many students participate. Thank you for facilitating the arrangements!!
Ginny West, Reading Specialist
Belmont Middle School
Belmont, NH

Thanks so much for arranging this program - they were EXCELLENT! It was sooooooooooo needed! We all appreciate it!
David Welch, Principal
Bennet Academy
Manchester, CT

Very engaging. Kids loved it and the performers handled the kids well.
Craig Church
Emerson Elementary School
Snohomish, WA

Excellent show. workshops after were a hit. Teachers, students and parents still talking about what a great show it was.
Amy Mullen
Stillwater Elementary School
Stillwater, NY

The professional performance by Hip Hop Handbook was received by our students with enthusiasm and a high level of interest. Thank you!
Laura Grassman
Weimar Hills School
Weimar, CA

I just want to send a quick note of praise for the Hip Hop Handbook presentation that was performed at our school last week. Justice was spectacular. He has a knack with kids and his performance was excellent. The group also facilitated the break-dance lessons after school. We had almost 80 students participate. The students are still talking about it.
Mike Magliacano, Principal
Roosevelt School
Manville, NJ

Awesome and amazing. The Professor and Applesauce really got the crowd going!
Laura Leahy
Lincoln Middle School
Alameda, CA

This dynamic group of young men presented a top notch, intellectual, age-appropriate program to 500 middle adolescents. They loved it! Group participation, outstanding rapport with staff and students, and skill level were all excellent.
Collins Middle School
Oak Hill, WV

This show was exciting and filled with energy. They transferred their excitement to the kids who seemed inspired by learning about the musical elements and styles that sometimes get ignored in general music class!! This was a very fun, educational, and interactive show not just for the students, but teachers as well!
Hoosier Road Elementary School
Fishers, IN

The show was excellent. The guys were very personable and entertaining. The teachers especially loved the show! They all commented on how Justin and his partners took a seemingly controversial subject and presented it in such a positive and educational light. The students, also, enjoyed the program. It was so different from other assemblies that we have had at school.
Antoinette Talovich, Holy Family School
Grand Blanc, MI

Have you ever wondered how Hip Hop music got started? Students learned how the modern the signature sound of the Hip Hop music genre evolved. With its roots firmly planted in Disco music of the 1970’s, Hip Hop has become a mainstream music genre and a multi-billion dollar industry. Students thoroughly enjoyed the performance by Hip Hop Handbook, and had opportunity to participate!
PTA
Fruitland Schools

We enjoyed the Hip Hop Assembly in which our students learned about the history of Hip Hop, how music, math and literacy work together as well as some unbelievable dance moves! Everyone thought it was a huge hit!
PTA
French Valley Elementary

The children absolutely adored it. It was very interactive and showed how the culture of music spans all groups.
Marjorie Stevens
Principal, Whiting School