Teens enjoy video shoot

• By JOHN A. COLVIN
• River parishes bureau
• Published: Dec 6, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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DONALDSONVILLE — Hip-hop music blasted from the Lowery Intermediate School gymnasium on Saturday as nearly 50 students got into the groove.

It was OK with Monica Hills, the school’s principal, though,  because she knows the apparent mayhem is constructive.

The school was turned into an on-location video shoot with the help of Dr. Rani Whitfield, who uses the performance name of “Tha Hip Hop Doc,” and his partner, David Augustine, known as “Dee-1.”

Whitfield, a physician in Baton Rouge, and Augustine, musician and math teacher at Baker Middle School, approached Hills in October about filming at the school. The two performers were featured in the parish school district’s Drug Awareness Day activities to fight drug use among school children.

“They were great; they went wild,” Whitfield said of his time with the students. “We even stayed an extra hour. It was one of those days that they just responded.”

Hills didn’t hesitate when Whitfield asked after the event to come back to film the videos.

“During the motivational speech, our students reacted so positively and were energetic and engaged the entire time,” she said.

For the past few years, the duo have traveled to schools, churches and libraries using hip-hop music to spread the message of hope to children. Whitfield talks to students about preventative medicine, teen pregnancy, physical fitness, HIV/AIDS  and diabetes
The Lowery video project will be used as an outreach tool in live performances as well as online use on music Websites.

Whitfield said, like his music and the comic books, the videos will be used as another outlet to reach children with a positive message.

“I look at any option,” he said. “If I could do a (Nintendo) Game Boy game I would. Whatever works.”

Finding an outlet to connect with the younger generation is a crucial role filled by Augustine, who is in his second year as an educator.

As a teacher, Augustine said, “I keep in touch with the latest trends and connected with the next generation.”

Augustine said he also finds motivation in his students, drawing on the issues they confront for subject matter in his music.