By Steven X
The arts have a way of creating leaders that can have an impact in several areas of life and Cap Hill of Washington, DC is an example of compassion and skill coming together brilliantly. Although he is recognized by some as a talented musician and emcee, Cap’s intelligence allows him to be a scriptwriter for independent films and television as well as a teacher.
Cap’s class at this moment is geared towards helping children identify their ideal learning style and applying that to their standard curriculum. Artists can potentially have a great impact on how their community can grow, in today’s climate there is a necessity for creatives who are willing to infuse their insight in a meaningful way.
As an indie scriptwriter, Cap has given life to the indie film “Bundles” and is currently in the midst of writing a TV series titled “Hobos”. To stay up to speed with Cap Hill’s moves, you can follow him on Instagram @capitolhilldiz.
I was fortunate enough to have Cap give me some game based on his experience in creating stories and teaching:
The process of writing scripts for shows/film and then bringing them to life seems to be very intricate and involved, would you say there is more freedom in writing your lyrics or creating scripts that become full productions?
I think the intricacy is a lot more apparent in writing a script. I mean, it’s about as close as a man can get to playing God. I decide what happens, to whom it happens, where, why, and how. I decide who lives, who dies, who’s good, who’s bad. In an uncontrolled environment, no form of writing compares to telling a completely fabricated story.
I love writing lyrics, but they often need to rhyme, be rhythmic, exhibit literary skills, entertain, etc. I feel like those objectives are limiting in nature, and navigating those obstacles and staying within those parameters is what makes it fun for me. So I’d say scripts allow more freedom for me.
We have seen Hip-Hop personas like Ice Cube and Dame Dash venture into creating major media platforms with several cult classics based on their identity. With your stories that you have written, what do you believe is your identity?
Hmm… my identity? That’s a tough one. I feel like it’s still a bit too early to tell. I’m not really a one genre or one demographic guy. My objective is simply to create concepts that are new and thought-provoking.
We live in an era of remakes, reboots, and reimaginings. It feels redundant. I’d rather fail at executing something new than to succeed at making a carbon copy. I just want to challenge writers to get back to innovation. Maybe that’s my identity. I’m a challenger… an artist’s artist.
In Hip-Hop Culture the principle of “Each One, Teach One” is one of the cornerstones that made the movement so remarkable in the beginning. How much of that mantra plays into your decision to be an educator.
I’m not sure if it even stems from Hip-Hop for me. I was never a big Hip-Hop guy as a kid. I was more into Punk Rock, Blues, and old Motown era music. It wasn’t until I started rapping myself that I realized how technical and powerful it could be. The right words at the right time can really move people. I started teaching when I was 13. I went over to the same elementary school I had just graduated from, and was like ‘I need a job, or I’m selling drugs.’
Fortune favors the bold. I left there that day with a gig as an after-school art teacher. Kids had to get their parents to sign up. People were intrigued. The class was full in a week. I’ve been teaching on and off ever since. I won’t romanticize it. It was just a job initially, but then I started teaching other subjects and seeing my approach have a major effect on kids. So I guess I gained a true appreciation for teaching along the way.
Considering the polarizing reputation that comes from Hip-Hop culture’s being perceived as a problematic force that brings down productivity and progress in our community, how important is championing more educational movements through the culture?
It’s very important. I think all of it is, to be honest. I don’t think anyone makes music with a plan to do harm. Those guys are just soundtracking the lives they live, or embellishing to imitate something they admire. Hip-hop is like a gun.
The gun has no motive. It can be used to rob you, or to protect you. It’s all dependent on the agenda of the man wielding it. I don’t think I’m right or wrong for the way I choose to do so. I’m just being me… in hopes that the listener can connect and feel something… anything. Even if they hate it. The point is to start a conversation.
What advice can you give to people or other artists who may be interested in either starting a platform like writing scripts or becoming an educator like yourself?
Just forget the rules. The world isn’t changed by brilliant people. People become brilliant on their journeys. The change part is just symptomatic. I didn’t go to school for film, music, or education. I never had a resumé, or any stamp that said I belonged.
I just decided that the guys doing what I wanted to do weren’t any better than me. They breathe, bleed, and fail just like anyone else. So why not me? And if I’m not invited to have a seat at the table, I’ll build my own table. A little audacity goes a long way.
After exchanging thoughts with Cap I gained an appreciation for his efforts of being mindful in presenting himself as a script-writer and teacher. There is a responsibility that naturally comes from being the type of creative Cap Hill is however, his combination of talent and intuition allows him to flourish in his lane masterfully.