Although Russell Simmons and the entire Hip-Hop Summit have been doing good things in terms of raising awareness in and out of the hip-hop community but the Hip-Hop Continental Conference wants to take things a step further. This week begins the first ever Hip-Hop Continental Conference in the Bronx, New York with the theme of “Uniting and Organizing Hip Hop Youth from Oakland to the South Bronx.”

In New York the sponsors are Point Community Development Corporation and Know Thyself Productions and California’s Higher Gliff and the University of Hip-Hop are also participating. Some of the events taking place this week are classes on break dancing, graffiti, how to write a rap and performance styles. Some of the notable hip-hop legends in attendance are Allen Ness and the Rock Steady Crew. Hoping that next the conference will grow and be able to move to California, the director of Higher Gliff, Sam Mulberry told NY Daily News, “There is a lot of New York history that our kids, who are really young, don’t know about. I want the kids to learn about life, check out the vibes and styles of New York. If nothing else, it’s an opportunity for them to make new friends.” The conference beings today and goes until Thursday at The Points Bronx community space and is free to the public.