MICHELLE LOCKE, FOUNDER OF HEALTH N HIP HOP

Michelle Locke has loved hip-hop since the beginning of her life. She grew up passionate about the genre, but never really could have anticipated how much it would influence her life and career further down the line. Today, Locke is very much ingrained in the music industry, as she directs Strategic Partnerships Marketing in the 1824 Department at Universal Music Group. She is based in New York City, where she spent a lot of time growing up, and makes waves in marketing for many of her and the world’s favorite artists.

“It goes really far back,” she explains, “At that moment in time, I didn’t understand the role it would play in my life.”

Locke cites her Favorite Artists as Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, Cash Cobain, Anycia, Baby Blue, Don Toliver, and Ciara.

Locke is a lover of all things health and wellness, and is passionate about combining her passion for music with her passion for health and wellness. She sees a obvious, clear link between the two, which led to her beginning her organization, Health N Hip Hop.

“I’ve always loved hip-hop, that has always been very much at the forefront for me, something I’ve always found passion and joy in,” she explains, “I’ve also always loved health and wellness, and finding’”The two can really go together in a lot of ways.’

“Through working with artists… I’ve started to see…Artists’ holistic health is not prioritized,” Locke explains.

When it comes to hip-hop music in particular, Locke believes that many musicians of the genre do not get the respect that they deserve: “People don’t oftentimes view hip-hop artists and rappers as ‘whole people.’”

“They’ll pick one thing and rule it out: “It’s not kid-friendly!”

“When it comes to hip-hop and rap, there are so many reasons and excuses on why people don’t wanna work with or listen to certain artists.”

Oftentimes, the general public thrusts their own misconceptions against hip-hop artists, which can be a dangerous game to play: “People want hip-hop artists to be something they’re not.”

“It takes a toll on artist’s mental health, spiritual health,” explains Locke. Through her work, Locke hopes that she wil be able to make a positive impact on the industry, and on individual artists.

Along with misconceptions against them, many hip-hop artists also deal with additional environmental factors that contribute to an absence of focus on wellness. Locke refers to “food deserts,” a phenomena she is familiar with from spending a lot of time with family in The Bronx.

“A lot of artists come from food deserts, working with people from these areas, a lot of artists do come from these areas where there are food deserts,” explains Locke.

Locke’s mission is to be able

“I want to be able to provide resources, knowledge, building spaces and communities where artists can come together”

“That’s really what Health N Hip Hop is meant to be, and what I hope it’ll be,” she continues.

Hip Hop is a unique genre in that it’s one of those niche industries that has touched live in ways most can not.

You really don’t see a lot of other genres getting talked about in the way that hip-hop is talked about.”

“I.E.: Hip Hop saved my life,” references Locke.