I was first introduced to this guy on the TV in the waiting room at my doctor’s office. Rani G. Whitfield is The Hip Hop Doc and at the time I wasn’t sure what that meant. He isn’t a doctor for Hip Hop although may think it could use some fixing. His private practice focuses on family medicine.

I’m suspicious of anything that has the word Hip Hop in front of it, especially if I’ve never heard of it. A few of his credentials:

Has a private practice in his hometown of Baton Rouge, La.

Is known nationwide from traveling and TV appearances on networks like CNN and BET.

Has made appearances on syndicated radio shows like Chuck D’s radio show and sites like AOL Black Voices to dispense commentary and health advice.

This 41 year old doctor is a graduate of Nashville’s Meharry Medical College.

He reads XXL or at least holds it in pictures.

Dr. Whitfield is “old-school” Hip Hop fan.

How did he get his name? Well, the Hip Hop Doc used to work as a physical trainer for high school sports teams and he said:

“The kids were really excited when I was able to drop some old-school Kurtis Blow on them. That led to a lot of young people getting interested in the message I was bringing.”

That never happens to me when I quote Kurtis Blow…but I guess those are the breaks!

He’s used his many various appearances, essays, books, comic books and of course a Hip Hop music project to get his message out on HIV/AIDS, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and substance abuse.

The Hip Hop Doc thinks health problems facing the Black community like heart attacks, cancer and strokes stem from the same issues.

“It’s poor diet and lack of exercise. Black men don’t see the doctor enough, and some Black women are so nurturing, they worry about everyone else’s health but their own.”

Maybe that can all be said of any race and any age group but I think this guy’s heart is in the right place and this is true of Black folks. I was also pleased to find the name Hip Hop Doc seemed to have found him and not the other way around.

You can read what Hip Hop means to the Hip Hop Doc at h2doc.com

Src: jsonline.com

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