Thank you Porsche!!!

http://schememag.com/daily-news/hip-hops-sweet-tooth/


Hip Hop’s Sweet Tooth!
Daily News > Features > – Apr 19, 2009 – by Porschia Baker

Musically edible with a heighten perspective, Marcus Gray created Hip Hop Chocolate in 2005 after tinkering with America’s temporary symbolism for terrorism, a box cutter, and making it pliable. With a belief in questioning and that evolution in the truthful sense is unending; he has created another Hip Hop element that has the same instant effect as musical vibrations. Constantly inspired by culture and a student of art, theology and culture, this is his gift; one aligned with positive association, solidarity and collaboration. Hip Hop Chocolate is a fascinating example of two household names, hip hop as well as chocolate, being deconstructed and assembled with a new mind offering hope, future dialogue and autonomy. If that isn’t enough, try licking his Shell Toes!
SCHEME: What’s the idea behind molding chocolate with one of our most influential cultures to create Hip Hop Chocolate?
HHC: The Idea was inspired by symbol systems used specifically in Catholic communion. I’m not Catholic but it occurred to me that by eating a symbol you can create a psychic link with the meaning behind the symbol.

SCHEME: You’ve mentioned once before that it was the creative and abusive force of the media that also sparked the idea for this. How has Hip Hop Chocolate become your response to what the media forces feeds us?
HHC: Well, after 9-11 all I saw on the news was talk about terrorist and terrorism. Which I felt even then couldn’t be defined. It reminded me of Hip Hop. They were creating a culture of fear based on a concept that had no true definition; especially in the context of National security. Who’s a terrorist? What do they look like? Which is what I feel has become of Hip Hop. It’s a culture that can’t be defined yet continues to grow. Although some who contribute to the culture get to make rules about what it could be, I believe all boundaries are open to be debated. I saw that the same could potentially happen to the idea of a terrorist! Which means anybody could be labeled a terrorist and dragged away without reason! Also anyone could challenge the definition if inspired. As an artist my mind immediately conjured images that could be used to illustrate this relationship between the idea of defining terrorism and creating culture. Then the thought of consuming fear came to mind. What if I made a symbol of terrorism that was edible? It would be difficult to be afraid of if you could eat it. So I made a chocolate box cutter. Box cutters which were eligibly used to hijack the planes would be the terrorists. I made a prototype, showed it to a couple of people and the response was great. It all translated. So I started to think about where else this could be applied, Hip Hop was the next obvious move. A communion for Hip Hop was born.
SCHEME: What does Hip Hop Chocolate simultaneously create and destroy?
HHC: Hip Hop simultaneously creates culture as it destroys the idea of what a coherent culture is. As a culture based on sampling other cultures, it is the ultimate anti culture…culture; with influences ranging from martial arts to calligraphy, physics and politics. I feel that Hip Hop personified, is the ultimate artist, an artist with the natural born talent of collaborating with various inspirations without being held by definitions or dogma.


SCHEME: How does the digestion of it correlate with the way we intake hip hop?
HHC: When you bite into a hip hop chocolate it is your opportunity to have a self induced spiritual experience! To meditate in that moment on what hip hop is to you personally and how you are contributing to the maturity of the culture. I feel that Hip Hop isn’t being fully taken in. The culture has been stagnating because of its romance with capitalism. It’s become a job as opposed to a medium. I say we each take time to think about what culture does for our lives. Take a bite and fully appreciate culture. Hip Hop being one of the many that influence our decisions every day.
SCHEME: Ideally you could have made another tee shirt line, bounced the idea off some kicks or even a mixtape, but you definitely aren’t a person who blurs within the lines. Why is that you chose chocolate?
HHC: I do plan to eventually diversify once I find the visionary angel eager to invest in the evolution of hip hop culture. But ultimately, I personally don’t see a more effective way to communicate the idea of meditating on the power of a culture, its purpose and what influence it has on individuals than by offering it as chocolate in a meaningful symbol form. There are way too many aimless clothing lines out there! I’m concentrating on building a brand that will carry this meditation into any other venture we go into.
SCHEME: In numerous instances you’ve been able to get back stage and connect with artists. You’ve given your chocolate to Erykah Badu, Posdnuos of De La Soul, Quest Love, Saul Williams, just to name a few, and even made one to commemorate President Obama. Who are some artists you’d like to collaborate with or produce a specific chocolate line for?
HHC: I’ve been very blessed to be able to speak with many of the cultures’ most inspiring artists. The response has been overwhelmingly positive! They all loved the concept even if they couldn’t completely grasp it. The idea of a sacred food for Hip Hop has a noble tone to it and it’s truly my intention. As far as collaboration…I’d love to collaborate with Barack Obama himself! To help nurture legislation that would subsidize the education of underprivileged inner city youths interested in creating and defining culture for themselves. Instead of being constantly forced into consuming an aging pop paradigm validated by the media. I want Hip Hop Chocolates to be a reference for the gourmet manifestation of hip hop, a maturing hip hop that truly cares about how it’s influence races the planet. In addition I would invite any and all artists to contact me about collaborating on a piece or contributing music to our compilation in the works. I want the chocolates to belong to everyone. The idea is to continue to let hip hop expand without boundaries.
SCHEME: Just for kicks, which Hip Hop artists embody the essence of Hip Hop Chocolate?
HHC: I really think Saul Williams is a future citizen of a maturing hip hop culture. His work helps to redefine Hip Hops parameters. Also Mear One, His art combines the samurai sensibility of a very intuitive graffiti artist and the skill and vision of a world class fine artist. His art fuses supernatural, political and mystical realms with profound imagery that you can meditate on forever! He is also creating a fresh mythology inspired by the spirit of Hip hop. Erykah Badu, Andre 3000, Zack de la Rocha, Blackbird, Tyler HVW8, Prince, Thavius Beck, Kofie the draftsmen, Daedelus, Codak, MF DOOM, Janelle Monae…I could go on and on. I think real artists in the culture know it’s about evolving to stay refreshed.

SCHEME: Your chocolate is a one man business. Are you currently working on expanding it?
HHC: Everyday I’m working on expanding. I just started a line of organic soaps in the shape of a turntable. Unfortunately even a cure for cancer will go unnoticed without marketing and venture capital. Do you know any Millionaires? Any chocolate loving millionaires with a passion for art and culture?

SCHEME: Anything else you’d like to put out in the universe?
HHC: Hip Hop has its prophets. But I’ve come to learn that a prophets job is to bring a new dogma to replace the old…knowing that one day their dogma will also be soon dismantled and replaced. Let us not be afraid to experiment with our idea of what a culture is!
Check out more Hip Hop Chocolate!