Nitty Morris knows the power of rap. Until the 24-year-old Over the Rhine native joined Elementz, his music mimicked the work of artists focused on the byproducts of commercial success. "I was closed-minded," Morris says. "All I could do was talk about everything that was glorified in the streets. After I came here, I was able to develop themes, like my political views, community problems, things that actually matter. I am no longer just a rapper, I'm an artist."
Morris joined the West End non-profit arts organization in the summer of 2006. After it helped him develop as a person and an artist, he decided to become a teacher. "I never wanted to be a deliberate leader," Morris says. "I just wanted to lead by example."
As studio manager and audio engineer instructor, Morris helps students with everything from songwriting to stage performance. After a couple kids at Elementz told Morris they look up to him, he saw that he could do a lot more than just teach them music. "I remember as a teen I was pride-driven," he says. "If someone would dare me to throw a rock through someone's window, I would do it because I didn't want to be called out in front of my boys."
He understood the challenge of making positive music in a world filled with negatives. So he asks his students what they like about their community. And then he asks them what they'd like to change.
"All these kids know at least one person who has been shot due to uncalled for violence," Morris says. "They all talk about needing to stop that."
From his posts in the classroom and behind the mic, Morris does his part to help. "So many artists get big in Cincinnati, then move away," Morris says. "Then I hear them talking about how Cincinnati hasn't changed. It's frustrating because they are the ones that can make the changes."
Morris plans on staying in Cincinnati, working with students at Elementz and with an upcoming album, furthering his music career as he uses his life's passion to support change in the neighborhood he knows so well.
Do Good:
Donate: Contact Elementz and ask how you can help its programs' creative efforts.
Attend the show: Elementz artists are performing at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Sept. 8.
Tweet about it: Follow Elementz on Twitter, @elementzhiphop
By Evan Wallis
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