Meet Rahkii “Hyp” Holman

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rahkii “Hyp” Holman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Rahkii “Hyp”, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I have to answer this question by lifting up the spirit of my Ancestors. The shoulders I stand on. Both of my parents (Bless Their Souls) were involved in movement work and social justice, particularly Civil Rights and the Black Power Movement. I’m fourth generation Cape Verdean on my father’s side and seventh generation Seminole Indian on my mother’s side. Amilcar Cabral is the national hero who led the liberation movement for Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde in 1973. He was assassinated two years before I was born and Cape Verde achieved liberation in 1975, 10 days before I was born actually. He is my grandmother’s first cousin. The Seminole Indian Chief Osceola is my great x4 grandfather on my mother’s side. He led the Seminole resistance in the Second Seminole War. I grew up being familiar with this history and so many other stories of resilience and resistance by my people so……context is king.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My practical social justice work actually started with my involvement in Hip-Hop in the early 90’s. I toured throughout Europe and the U.S advancing ideas of struggle, liberation and progress through music. Currently I’m the funder engagement manager at Community Works, an organization that works with people impacted by the carceral system in the Bay Area California. Over the past 14 years, I facilitated several restorative justice curriculum and groups in jails, prisons, schools and communities. I’m the co-founder of Atunse Justice League, a company that trains and consults organizations in restorative practices. Big Ups to my co-founder Garry “Malachi” Scott. I’m also the founder of Assineyola Music Publishing, a company that promotes healing from multi-generational trauma, through music. We do this by providing music, content, and curriculum for social justice leaders and educators. Our music compositions feature live and electronic instrumentation. It’s available on several streaming platforms. Our music is also available for licensing for film, tv, documentaries, influencer videos and commercials *by request*. Shout out to Geraldine Convento, my business partner at Assinyeola Music Publishing. I have a few Lo-Fi/Chill-Hop albums for streaming on Spotify. One of them is a 26 track instrumental album titled “I Need Time To Chill Volume 1”. I’ll be dropping volume 2 within the next 2-3 months. I’m also releasing a documentary on my third cousin Amilcar Cabral, featuring interviews from luminaries like Fania Davis and the filmmaker Larry Clark. This will…of course feature much of my Lo-Fi, Chill-Hop and Afrobeat instrumentals.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

DOPE question! Here are the three that are top of mind for me:
1) Connecting values with mission/purpose. I was raised with the value of “paying it forward”. This means that I share my knowledge, wisdom and resources with others on their journey. Paying it forward can serve as a moral compass for you. It’s always something that you can check-in with yourself about: how am I serving others?
2) Identify how your work connects to your real life experiences. Some of the most impactful work we do, is driven by our own experiences. Understanding how your work connects to your experiences centers it in authenticity.
3) Make peace with and understand, to the fullest extent possible, the consequences of your choices. Goals can be altruistic and lofty, individualistic and self aggrandizing or somewhere in between. Just work to understand what these goals could lead to.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I’m looking to collaborate with orgs, companies and people who are interested in progressive ideas. Progress rooted in promoting interconnectivity, healing and *mutual benefit*. In my travels, I encounter so many people who feel disaffected by what they see from so called “leadership” in this country and other parts of the globe. Often times, these are also some really talented people too. Get at me if you you’re down to collaborate on innovative, creative and tasteful ways to resist and uplift.

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