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This was an editorial staff response to the public outcry following an awards show for which we received – and appreciated – a nomination. It also serves as a good synopsis for AllHipHop’s year of hard work and ongoing commitment to the preserving and reporting of Hip-Hop culture…

Original Run Date: October 13, 2011

Hmph.

I feel the need to set the record (somewhat) straight – once and for all. Bear with me.

The phone calls and e-mails have been popping off all week: “It’s a travesty! Who are they kidding? What in the…???”

People. Thank you. But, calm down. It’s all good.

You see, AllHipHop is many things. But we’re not them.

We’re not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. But we’re dedicated. We don’t do a lot of bragging and boasting. But frankly, we’re the original. We trot the globe, parlay with Hip-Hop greats, and break global news stories.

We’re everywhere. And real talk? They’re NEVER there.

In 2011 alone:

• We’re repping the AllHipHop brand (and Hip-Hop culture) on four continents, including North America, Africa, Europe, and South America.

• We’ve been invited to the White House four times to help President Obama reach YOU as an audience more effectively.

• We hosted an event on “State of the Union Address” night in D.C. that brought together some of the country’s most brilliant, young political minds to consider the pressing issues of our time.

• We’ve brought rap industry vets, renowned scholars, and community activists together in Newark, NJ, Wilmington, DE, Harlem, NY, and Baltimore, MD to speak directly to youth who need our guidance.

• We’ve spoken on countless panels, been profiled in award-winning documentaries, judged battles and Freestyle Fridays, and been featured in several national/global magazines & websites.

• We broke the biggest Hip-Hop news story of the year – an exclusive confession to the 1994 Tupac shooting, now being investigated by the NYPD.

• We’ve dined with royalty in Morocco, North Africa, while there to cover Kanye West’s and legends like Quincy Jones’ performances during the country’s turbulent revolution.

• We’ve interviewed the likes of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Chuck D, Jay-Z, Don King, and the list of icons goes on.

• We hosted the most talked about and praised Notorious B.I.G. tribute event in New York City since his tragic death.

• We relaunched AllHipHop.com just last week with a dynamic new platform that includes more multi-media content and increased user interaction.

• Oh, and MTV, BET, VH1, and the rest of Viacom, and even most of NBC/Universal? We’ve done that, too.

I say all of that to say awards and accolades don’t mean a great deal…when you genuinely know your impact and purpose on the planet.

We also know the Internet is a powerful tool. It allows AllHipHop to shine a bright spotlight on this underdog sub-culture called Hip-Hop – its sacrifices, realities, triumphs, rebelliousness, grime, and all – for the rest of the planet to see.

The Internet also gives us the opportunity (and responsibility) to reach millions of people with a message and a voice. Unlike some others, we simply choose to use ours wisely.

There are just certain things you’re not going to see on AllHipHop – and you never will. There are certain images we’ll never broadcast, and certain exploitations we’ll never choose to profit from.

To compare us to them is like comparing apples to oranges.

You see…

We’re just a small team of independently owned, grinding, hustling-hard Hip-Hop kids who love what we do. And for 13 years, we’ve loved doing it for you, so thanks for the support. That’s what matters.

We’re not them. We never will be. We’re absolutely fine with that.

To the (All) Hip-Hop, we won’t stop. Seandra Sims is AllHipHop.com’s Managing Editor. Follow her on Twitter at @seandrasims.