Who am I? Stephanie Woods a 51 year old true school hip hop head. A woman born in the Bronx, where hip hop began and a single mother who graduated Magna Cum Laude at the age of 51 with a degree in communications. But of all things, I'm a lover of a culture that I grew up on. Unlike Chris Rock, I never grow tired of defending it. If you're willing to listen, I'm willing to discuss it alllll day errrrr day!

Let's take it to the beginning, where it all began. The South Bronx, Bronx River Projects which was down the street from my hood (Crotona Park) and Afrika Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation, the Cold Crush Brothers,Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5 and a host of other hip hop pioneers that I will continue to honor and shed some light on how this all began.  To this day I say those words with pride and pure admiration for being a product of where hip hop was born. Kind of makes me feel like a relative, not a product of the culture, but a being that is a related.

The Early 80s for me was going to the block parties and listening to the Deejays play music and cut records or scratch records.  Those were the best of times until the shooting started, but for some reason, we kept going and my mother constantly called me and my sister to come outside and go to what we called "Jams". We didn't call it a block party or a party; it was straight up "the jams". Everyone would yell out their window or holla down the block " Yo they jammin in the park".

Some were hesitant to go to the jams because of the bloodshed, but once hip hop hit the clubs, now that was some other stuff.  There are many documentaries and views on how hip hop it the club scene, but one man who was not only there, but started it all-- if you are a true hip hop head, then you gotta know Sal Abbatiello. Sal was the one person who took hip hop off the streets and gave it a home at the Disco Fever. It was there that Love Bug Starski was born and many battles were born. Sadly hip hop was starting to have a reputation for fighting; gun violence and many promoters were not willing to have concerts featuring these types of artist. But Sal convinced his dad to promote parties featuring hip hop artists.

Like old school business deals, I was able to call Sal on the telephone and he was not too busy to take the call and answer a few questions:

Stef: What have you been doing lately?

Sal: I've been working with Lehman College for the past 12 years, we promote old school arts to come back to the Bronx, and make a living for their families. Most of these artists had hits in the 80s and 90s but they are not in demand and the big arenas are not interested in hiring them. So to continue what I've always done, I bring these artists back to the Bronx, and we put on a wonderful concert every year. This was everyone wins, the school is making money and these artist are able to feed their families.

Stef: Past artist have included-Grand Puba of Brand Nubian, Spoonie G, Rob Base, The Sugar Hill Gang, Roxanne Shante, Black Rob, Fonda Rae, Grandmaster Caz and Dj Marley Marl, Grandwizard Theadore and the legendary Rakim.

Stef: Why do you continue to do this?

Sal: I love hip hop, I love the culture, and it's my life. I'm from the Bronx and hip hop started in the Bronx-I've always been a lover of hip hop, and I'm going to always continue to try and help support these artists.

Like a true hip hop head, the interview was old school-pick up the phone and speak with Sal Abbatiello, who else in this industry does that? Speaking with him, brought tears to my eyes. No secretary, no voice mail, just straight up conversing with a man who was not only there when it all began, but he's still there-loving and living the culture of hip hop. It felt like talking with an old cousin.

by stephanie woods

Next up in Q

how did the culture of hip hop begin-now that's a debate you don't want to miss.