Pee Wee Kirkland Speaks On Hip-Hop

For those unfamiliar with Richard “Pee Wee” Kirkland, he is a legendary basketball player from the 1960s. He was blessed with such skill (he is credited with inventing the crossover dribble) and quickness that he is still considered the most talented point guard in the history of New York City.

Rather than bask in the glory of a storied professional career, Kirkland decided to become a hustler and chase fast money and a glamorous lifestyle. He spent most of the 1970s and 80s in prison, then turned his life around. He earned a master’s degree in human services and works to prevent youth from repeating his mistakes.

So it was interesting to find this recent interview where Kirkland gave his assessment on hip-hop’s effect on the black community. Having lived the full spectrum of roles that most rappers identify with (athlete, hustler, prisoner, community activist) Kirkland can speak with authority on the subject.

I immediately thought of Gladys Knight’s comments from earlier this year where she said hip-hop “definitely has not elevated us as African-Americans.”

Are Pee Wee and Gladys speaking the truth? Or are they simply representatives from a generation that is too old to see the positives of hip-hop?