Learn how educators, artists, activists, and counselors are using hip hop as a tool to help change the stigmas surrounding mental health in the Black community.
- Knowledge Born Allah
- Dec 14, 2025
- 9 min read
Updated: Dec 16, 2025
"Music can be manifested in so many ways beyond just sound. It can take the form of art, poetry, or even the way knowledge is passed down," says rising hip-hop artist Kalik Allah. After an inspiring encounter with world-renowned painter John Newsom, Kalik reflected on the deep symbolism and effort behind Newsom’s work, which he described as “a manifestation of Killah Priest’s vision.” Newsom’s recent paintings, featuring intricate elements such as a bee, a bird, a fox, and an owl's wing, serve as a poetic bridge between hip-hop and fine art. “The symbolism behind all of this is so deep, and there’s a lot of respect behind the work that he’s done here,” Kalik added. This convergence of hip-hop and visual art is yet another testament to the genre’s transformative power, offering healing and inspiration to communities navigating mental health challenges.
Hip-hop continues to break barriers as a therapeutic tool, offering a voice to those navigating mental health challenges in underserved communities. At a Bronx school, hip-hop therapy has been embraced as a counseling method, encouraging students to express their struggles through music in neighborhoods where poverty and crime are constants. This innovative approach has shown remarkable success in helping young people process trauma and build resilience (The New York Times). Similarly, the rise of "sad rap" has brought mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and suicide into the spotlight, with artists using their platforms to normalize conversations about emotional well-being.
Artists Leading the Charge
Hip-hop artists are at the forefront of normalizing conversations about mental health, using their platforms to inspire healing and connection. A powerful moment in this movement occurred on stage in Miami, where Infinite 7 Mind met his mentor, the legendary Killah Priest, during the Cipher Versary event. The emotional reunion highlighted the profound impact of mentorship and music in fostering resilience. Killah Priest shared how his album M.O.T.H.E.R. became a therapeutic outlet for processing the devastating loss of his mother, Helen Culver. “I clutch in a ball 'cause I'm sick to my gut, then I brush off the dusted up like I was touched by healing palms,” he reflected.
The album sent shockwaves across the globe, resonating deeply with fans who had also experienced the pain of losing loved ones. Priest’s vulnerability not only helped him heal but also provided solace to countless others in his fan base. He also emphasized the broader power of hip-hop to address societal issues, recalling his contribution to the AIDS awareness song "America’s Dying Slowly." “I had a song about AIDS, but it had to be all of it. I said, ‘America is dying slowly.’ God RZA loved it,” he explained. Through his music, Killah Priest continues to demonstrate how hip-hop can be a catalyst for both personal and collective healing.
Tiye Phoenix, a middle school counselor and hip-hop artist, highlights the vital role music plays in shaping young minds. “Most of the problems that we see in the Black community would be seen as mental health issues. A healthy, sound mind can produce healthy, sound decisions,” she says. Phoenix also emphasized the influence of music on young people, stating, “Music is a way that they just learn who they are. They learn about things that maybe their parents didn’t teach them or maybe other adults in their lives haven’t taught them.”
Hustling, as Dr. Ife Jie explores in her critical analysis The 6th Element of Hip Hop: Long Live the Spirit of the Hustler, is not just a survival strategy but a transformative force that reclaims agency in the face of systemic deprivation. "Hustling is perhaps the unintentional consequence that derives from the space of lack, a space of deprivation, a space that requires ingenuity, creativity, passion, intellect, social-emotional maturity, vigorousness, street smarts, legal-ease, entrepreneurship, audacity, and vision at minimum," she writes.
This spirit of hustling is deeply embedded in Hip Hop culture, which itself emerged as a creative and entrepreneurial response to the social and political oppression faced by urban youth in the South Bronx. Events like Newark’s 24 Hours of Peace embody this ethos, using Hip Hop as a tool to unite communities, foster resilience, and create opportunities for healing and empowerment. Dr. Jie’s assertion that "Hip Hop is hustling" underscores how the culture transforms scarcity into abundance, offering hope and infinite possibility.
This connection between hustling and Hip Hop’s transformative power is also evident in the rise of hip-hop therapy as a tool for mental health advocacy. Dr. Jie’s observation that "hustling reshapes contemporary expressions and realities of uncertainty, struggle, and hope" aligns with the mission of initiatives like 24 Hours of Peace and hip-hop therapy programs, which use music to address trauma and systemic inequities. Both hustling and Hip Hop provide frameworks for navigating precarity, whether through entrepreneurial endeavors or therapeutic expression.
By proposing hustling as the sixth core element of Hip Hop, Dr. Jie highlights its role in fostering self-determination and resilience qualities that are central to the success of community-led movements like 24 Hours of Peace. For a deeper dive into Dr. Jie’s groundbreaking work, read the full article on LinkedIn.
The Transformative Power of Hip-Hop: A Story by Duane Bowser aka The Black Dot
For those who truly understand it, hip hop is more than music it’s a way of life. Duane Bowser, also known as The Black Dot, founder of Urban X and author of Hip Hop Decoded, reflects on how hip hop became the soundtrack for survival. "When we say a way of life, we mean the way we walk, the way we talk, the way we process information," he explains.
"Hip hop is transformative. It’s about making a beat out of something that wasn’t a beat, creating art when we didn’t have art classes, and dancing when they took away the dance classes." For Bowser, hip hop’s essence lies in its principles: peace, unity, love, and having fun. But he warns that when it crosses into commercialized rap or "hip pop," it risks losing its grounding.
Bowser’s personal journey with hip hop is a testament to its healing power. In his book, Hip Hop Decoded, he shares a pivotal moment when he felt lost, believing real hip hop had been overtaken by rap. "I woke up in a depressive state, thinking we had lost real hip hop," he recalls. But then, a series of moments reignited his hope. A bus passed by with Queen Latifah on a billboard, a car drove by blasting A Tribe Called Quest. "I realized hip hop wasn’t gone; it was immersive, in my everyday life," he says. That realization brought him back to the core of what hip hop truly is. "As KRS One said, 'Rap is something you do. Hip hop is something you live.'” For Bowser, hip hop remains a vibration, a force that can solve anything when given the time and space to do so.
Community Healing Through
Hip-Hop Hip-hop is not just a genre of music; it’s a cultural force that has become a cornerstone for community healing and empowerment. One shining example of this is Newark’s annual "24 Hours of Peace", co-founded by hip-hop artist and activist Hakim Green. This annual event, which began in 2010 under the guidance of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, uses the principles of hip-hop—peace, love, unity, and safely having fun to unite communities against violence. Green explains, 24 Hours of Peace is about peace, love, unity, and safely having fun.
These are the core principles of Hip Hop culture. We use this festival to elevate the community and bring people together.” The festival directly addresses systemic issues like violence and inequality, creating a safe space for dialogue, resilience, and healing. Events like this highlight the transformative power of hip-hop to foster collective well-being and tackle environmental stressors that contribute to mental health crises.
The festival, which runs for 24 hours straight, features a dynamic mix of legendary and emerging hip-hop artists, health and wellness activities, yoga sessions, spoken word performances, and community town halls. Past performers have included icons like KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, Queen Latifah, and Jadakiss, while this year’s lineup promises appearances from G-Dep, Kool G Rap, and local Newark artists. Green recalls the origins of the event, saying, “The event was created to support the anti-violence work being done by the Newark Anti-Violence Coalition and the Nation of Islam. We brought Hip Hop to the forefront to accentuate and elevate that work.” These gatherings are more than just concerts they are platforms for community empowerment, where attendees can engage in meaningful conversations and find solidarity through shared experiences.
Healing Through Hip-Hop: A Path to Authenticity and Connection
Artists have the power to inspire and heal by sharing their struggles and triumphs. Ron Green, also known as Chief The Truth, emphasizes the importance of vulnerability in music, stating, "When you can be vulnerable in that way, it humanizes you and allows you to connect with your audience in a more meaningful way. Authenticity is key." Farugh Ma'at of B Ma'at Inc. echoes this sentiment, explaining how journaling helps youth process their emotions and reclaim their power: "We use journaling to point our youth back to their power. It starts with writing down everything they’re going through, and then we turn those words into poetry, bars, or hooks. It’s about transforming pain into purpose."
The impact of this approach is profound, as Ma'at shares, "Journaling creates a space to deal with suppressed traumas. We’re so busy surviving that we repress emotions just to move forward. But when you sit down and unpack it all, that’s when real healing begins." Green adds that music becomes even more valuable when it reflects real-life struggles: "People want to connect with you in a real way. Talking about your day-to-day struggles and how you approach them makes your music more valuable to the average person." Together, they stress the need to inspire and uplift, with Green concluding, "We’ve got to inspire each other and give each other hope. You don’t have to change who you are, but find ways to layer meaningful messages into your music. Hit people where it counts the most."
As noted by the American Psychological Association, hip-hop’s cultural relevance makes it a powerful tool for addressing mental health challenges, particularly in marginalized communities. In addition to the festival, hip-hop therapy initiatives like freestyle cyphers have emerged as innovative forms of group therapy. These sessions allow participants to express themselves in a supportive environment, using lyrical skill as a medium for storytelling and emotional release.
Hakim Green’s dedication to hip-hop and community activism continues to inspire, proving that music and culture can be powerful tools for change. As highlighted by NBC News, hip-hop therapy is breaking down barriers to mental health care by creating spaces where individuals feel seen, heard, and understood. The 24 Hours of Peace movement has become a yearly tradition, drawing thousands of attendees and fostering a culture of nonviolence and empowerment. For more information, visit 24HRSOFPEACE, INC. or follow them on social media.
Breaking Down Stigmas Through Education
One of the biggest barriers to mental health care in the Black community is the stigma surrounding therapy. Rev. Dr. J.N. Huskey emphasizes that much of this stigma stems from misinformation and outdated perceptions. “I think what contributes most to the stigmas about mental health and therapy is being uninformed. Not understanding fully what therapy means,” she explains. Many people still associate therapy with the stereotypical image of “some old man with glasses on a couch writing in a notebook,” which feels disconnected from their lived experiences. Dr. Huskey believes that reshaping these perceptions is key to progress. “If we can change how our community sees therapy and what their understanding of it is, those stigmas will start to die off”.
The Transformative Power of Hip-Hop Therapy
Mental health professionals are increasingly turning to hip-hop as a tool to connect with youth and break down barriers. Known as "Hip-Hop Therapy" This approach uses the genre’s cultural relevance to help individuals explore their emotions and experiences. Dr. Ian Levy, a licensed psychologist, explains, “When you bring in something like hip-hop that they can connect with, it’s a way to bridge that gap and really build that connection” (NBC News).
Tomás Alvarez, a pioneer of hip-hop therapy and founder of the Hip-Hop Therapy Global Institute, highlights its transformative power. “I believe that hip-hop therapy has eradicated the stigma of therapy for youth of color. There is no shame in going to hip-hop therapy,” he says. Alvarez’s work with Beats Rhymes and Life (BRL) has shown how integrating hip-hop culture into counseling can help marginalized youth open up and engage with mental health services.
Raphael Travis, an associate professor at Texas State University, emphasizes the dual impact of hip-hop, saying, “On a personal scale, there’s an individual essence of identity, but there’s this community side that’s always been there, as far as having a critical eye of being aware of what’s going on around you” (Stanford Social Innovation Review).
Hip-hop therapy is changing lives, offering a unique and effective approach to mental health care. By creating playlists and using music as a therapeutic tool, clients are finding new ways to process emotions, build resilience, and heal. Rev. Dr. J.N. Huskey’s work with Trap Therapy highlights how hip-hop can break down barriers and provide a voice for those navigating mental health challenges.
For more information on the impact of hip-hop therapy, visit Beats Rhymes and Life (BRL), an organization dedicated to empowering youth through music. To explore how hip-hop is being used to provide mental health resources, check out Coffee, Hip-Hop & Mental Health. The healing power of hip-hop is undeniable. Get involved, spread the word, and help make a difference.
Mental health is critically important in the Black community, where historical trauma, systemic racism, and ongoing social stressors significantly impact emotional well-being. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Black adults are about 20% more likely to experience serious mental distress than white adults, yet they are less likely to receive mental health treatment, and when they do, it is often of poorer quality. Music therapy—particularly hip hop therapy—can be a powerful healing tool because it uses a culturally relevant art form rooted in storytelling, resilience, and self-expression. Through writing, listening to, and analyzing hip hop, individuals can process trauma, express suppressed emotions, build identity, and feel seen and understood, making therapy more accessible, engaging, and effective for…