Video summary
The video celebrates the 53rd anniversary of hip-hop culture, marking August 11th as its official birthday while also honoring the host's family legacy within the genre. The speaker introduces his brother, Ailio Austin Jr., known as Buddhist Stretch, a director and producer who has been integral to hip-hop since its inception by dancing with legends like Mariah Carey and Eric B & Rakim. His brother developed a business mantra called "Mop Top," which stands for motivated on precision toward outstanding performance, a philosophy inspired by their father's insistence that he put 110% effort into his craft. The host expresses deep pride in his family's contributions and highlights how hip-hop served as a lifeline during chaotic times, offering serenity, hope, and a vision for a better future.
The celebration extends to paying tribute to influential artists who have passed away, including Bis Monkey and DMX, whose music provided essential beats that made people move and feel connected. The speaker also praises Kendrick Lamar for his powerful message of kinship and unity, specifically referencing the line "bump them all and they mama," which resonated with the host's own upbringing. Even though the host is not a sports fan, he was moved by Kendrick Lamar's phenomenal performance at the Super Bowl halftime show, describing it as a testament to God's amazing work. The segment emphasizes that hip-hop allows listeners to see beyond their immediate struggles and fosters a sense of community among people who might otherwise feel disconnected.
Beyond music, the conversation shifts to social issues and personal stories, particularly focusing on immigration and family resilience in Vermont. One guest shares her Panamanian heritage and the sacrifices made by her mother, who brought the family to the United States so they could thrive despite the pain of losing her over twenty years ago. Another segment addresses the plight of children facing eviction due to wealthy landlords, urging viewers to stand up against injustice rather than engaging in violence. The host encourages healing and continued advocacy, reminding everyone that the work is not done and that society must provide more assistance to those who are poor, homeless, or addicted to drugs.
The video concludes with a warm atmosphere of gratitude and community building, featuring interviews with new guests like Marcelis Williams, who shares her birthday and family history as an immigrant from Brooklyn now living in Burlington. The host organizes a virtual party for the many new family members born in Vermont, emphasizing that immigrants are not enemies but essential parts of the nation's fabric. Through dance, storytelling, and heartfelt messages, the episode reinforces themes of coexistence, listening to factual truths about one another, and honoring ancestors while moving forward together. The final moments are filled with singing birthday wishes for hip-hop and the host, leaving viewers with a sense of unity and renewed purpose in their shared cultural journey.
Read the full video transcript
Happy birthday, TT. [screaming]
TK is two. But I also have TO SHOUT OUT
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HIP HOP. [screaming]
HIP HOP is 53.
>> Yeah.
>> August 11th, which was election day for
us, [laughter]
but it was also hip-hop's birthday. And
I love hiphop. I celebrate hip hop. The
culture of hip hop is everything good.
Well, I shouldn't say that because
there's a song called Spin That. That's
trash.
Thumbs down for the spin that song, but
I didn't come to diss nobody. I want to
say happy birthday to hip hop because I
have a celebrity in my family who has
been there since day one and his name is
Ailio Austin Jr. better known as
Buddhist stretch
and he's on Instagram, Facebook. He is a
director and producer at Perry Dance
Center in the lower east side of New
York.
and he has been a part of hip-hop from
day one. I call him a catalyst because
when he started dancing
hiphop
and he started dancing, he started
choreographing, he started uh producing
videos like he's danced with uh Mariah
Carey. Um he danced with Houdini.
Um he danced with Eric B and Ra Kim.
There's a long list. I'mma slow down a
little bit. But um when my brother
started dancing, he didn't know which
way his life would go with the hip-hop
dancing. And my dad told him, "If you
going to do this, you have to beat 110%
with it."
>> Wow. And so my brother's business is I
want to say like 35 36 years old. And
him and his friends, you know, from back
in the day have been together doing
their thing. And I'm so proud of them.
My brother created a mantra back then
called Mop Top. M O P T O P. And I want
to tell you what it stands for. Moptop
stands for motivated on precision
toward outstanding performance.
>> And you know he got that inspiration
from my dad. Um he's he has a video uh
on uh YouTube through bet is called I
was a 90s dancer and you can check out
the history. It's phenomenal. It's so
rewarding. My mama is so proud. You
know, I talk about I'm always busy
making my ancestors proud and mama is
one of them ancestors.
And my mom,
you know, was inspirational
and so very proud of my brother before
she passed. And I'm thankful because to
me hip-hop was kind of lifesaving, you
know, because we've we've gone through a
lot of chaos, you know, but hip-hop gave
you serenity, you know, hip-hop gave you
hope. You understand? Hip-hop allowed
you to see
something better coming. You know, like
one of my favorite hip hop artists, oh,
a couple of them have passed away. Rest
in peace to Bismar. You know, Bis Monkey
had that song, She's Only Just a Friend.
>> Oh, baby, you got what I need.
>> Okay, I'm not going to perform. Uh, but
he also had another song called They
Caught the Vapor. Y'all got to check
that out because that song was
everything. Oh, when it first came out,
>> it had the whole world jumping. And then
I also want to shout out uh rest in
peace to DMX cuz DMX Dark Man X was a
phenomenal hip hop artist. He always
spit the truth. He always had a
phenomenal beat, you know, and I'm a
beat junkie, so the beat means
everything, you know. Without the beat,
you don't know which way to go. But the
beat make you move your feet, shake your
body, body. So DMX, that song he made,
it was like, y'all gonna make me lose my
mind up in here. Up in here.
>> Yeah, I remember that. you know, because
I mean, the man was phenomenal. Um, I
want to shout out um, also
I absolutely
love that Kendrick Lamar, although he
lives in California, he's from
California, his his um, music allows us
to see that, you know, we are kinship,
>> you know, we are related cuz he said in
his song, um, bump them all and they
mama. Now that's that's something I grew
up knowing. Okay, bump them all and they
mama is something my mama used to say.
Okay, so I love that Kendrick Lamar
understood the assignment.
>> You know what I'm saying? Because when
he did that halftime show,
I mean the halftime show was so
phenomenal. I'm not a football fan. I'm
not into sports, but I had to watch. And
Kendrick Lamar did his thing. I mean,
the entire production was phenomenal.
God is amazing. If you didn't see it,
you should
>> check it out.
I'm sorry. DID I GO OVERBOARD?
[screaming]
>> YES. Teachable moments.
>> Oh my goodness. Now, I want to shout out
my granddaughters. stay in the audience.
Hey, Brookie. Hey, O.
>> Yeah.
>> And I want to uh say thank you very much
um to everyone who watches. You know,
CCTV has been um embracing and and
comforting to me these past two years.
You know, I felt some type of way. I
felt robbed really when Camala did not
win.
And I felt like I needed to share my
voice more. And so I was watching my
brother with the Olympics,
you know, and he was sipping on a cup of
tea. And that's how I came up with tea
talk.
>> Oh, okay.
>> You know, and it's rewarding. It's uh
soothing, you know, when you can just
watch something and compliment it, you
know, because the Olympics, they didn't
I don't think they knew about my brother
a couple years ago, but they know now.
THEY KNOW NOW, BABY, CUZ they need help.
I mean, seriously. Anyway, we not going
to talk about that, but I just want to
say thank you to everyone who has ever
participated. Oh, congratulations
to Sarah George. [screaming]
And congratulations to Amy Payne. And
congratulations
to Brian Cena. They was on the show last
month before election day and they, you
know, they won. They'll be on the ballot
in November. we continue to conquer. And
I want to tell Kevin Bloom, don't don't
be sad. Don't be upset, you know. Take
the time to heal, rest, recuperate,
because the work is not done.
>> No, it's not.
>> You know, I truly enjoyed the breath of
fresh air that Kevin Bloom was. You
know, I truly enjoyed the new ideas that
he had to prevent children from being
evicted, you know, and so I want Kevin
to know we are thinking of him. We are
praying for him. And the work is not
done. So get some rest cuz we got to get
right back out there and start fighting
again. And I don't mean fighting
violently. I mean, standing up for one
another, speaking out against the wrong
that is being done. Children don't
deserve to be evicted in the street.
It's disgusting,
you know, and this country is too rich
for so many people to be poor, homeless,
and on drugs, you know, and there should
be more assistance, not less. And some
people get a kick out of
uh you know their job you know uh the
the the what is it gamelin you know I
think that he is um I think he won
because
the wealthy landlords in the state want
to keep him on because he is you know he
not shy about throwing people out in the
street. So
your time is limited, bro. You heard it
first right here, Mr. Game Boy.
>> Okay,
>> but anyhoo,
happy birthday, T.
Happy birthday, T.
Happy birthday.
Happy birthday, [singing]
T.
Happy birthday, T. Um, excuse me. Could
you introduce yourself?
>> I am Marcelis Williams and this is the
first time I've been on TV.
>> Yay. [screaming]
You're the man.
>> That was great.
>> Yeah, it was.
>> I appreciate you coming.
>> And I appreciate you speaking up.
>> When's your birthday?
>> September 2nd.
>> Wow. That's around the corner, bro.
>> September 2nd. Less than two weeks away.
Mhm.
>> Wow. We gonna have to do something
special for you.
>> YAY. [screaming]
We love to celebrate, don't we?
>> Happy birthday, hip hop. Happy birthday,
hip hop. Happy birthday.
Okay. I want to um You want to share
anything, Winnie? You have um Hey
neighbor. Hey, tomorrow.
>> Yeah. And I will top it
>> at noon. that yes at noon 11:45 we like
to talk you know reach and wind um get
comfortable with the set and our topic
tomorrow is the immigrants in the state
of Vermont
>> and we just want to bring immigrants
together and let people know that an
immigrant is not the enemy
>> not at all
>> and we all have to coexist to exist it's
a process to get the progress and we
just need to listen and talk to each
other and get to know factual things
about the other person.
>> That's good news. Thank you. I
appreciate you.
>> I appreciate you.
>> And you know, my dad is Panamanian. He
was born in Panama, so he came here as a
child, you know, and other family
members as well,
>> you know. But I'm thankful my mom and
dad got together and made THE QUEEN.
[screaming] OH, THAT WOULD BE ME.
>> YEAH,
>> I'm first born. I'm proud of being
firstborn, too, you know.
>> Wait, you're a twin, right?
>> Oh, you were.
>> No, my sister do look like my twin, but
we're a year apart.
>> Oh, okay. [laughter] Okay. Okay.
>> I was hoping she was going to come
today, but she didn't make it.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. But it's all good.
>> Mhm.
>> No, I have two sisters and two brothers.
I'm first born and I have eight grandb
babies and my sister has 18 grandb
babies and two great grand. So we a big
family. I got a lot of family here in
the state of Vermont. I need to give a
party for everybody from Brooklyn who
came here from Brooklyn to Burlington.
That's going to be a party.
>> Yeah.
>> You know, because I really do have a lot
of new um family members who have had
children here. So it's a brand new
generation of children.
Yes.
>> Yeah. And you know we originally came
here some of 94
and my four kids was not even adults
yet. They was like 13 and 14. But they
were so comfortable when we first got
here. I told them don't get comfortable.
We just visited.
>> And that was 30 something years ago.
>> Yeah.
>> You know, but I'm proud to be a grandma
of eight baby.
>> Yeah. Oh yes. I'm proud to be a grandma.
I'm so thankful to God be all the glory.
Okay. And I'm truly truly I try to live
by busy making my ancestors proud
>> because I miss my mama every day and she
been gone over 20 years.
>> You know,
>> my dad is not who he used to be.
Unfortunately,
my dad is in the intensive care unit
right now. It happened today.
>> Oh,
>> there's a lot going on, but we praying
for strength and mercy and healing
in Jesus name.
>> Yeah.
>> Amen.
>> Yeah. September 16th will be one year
since my mom passed as well. So, this
period is a very interesting period, but
she would want us to continue living.
It's hard when you lose your mom.
>> Yeah.
>> You know, because I have felt like the
planet has never been the same since her
physical body is gone.
>> Yeah.
>> But I carry her in my heart, you know,
because
>> she was my greatest fan.
>> Yeah. you know, no people don't
understand what it means or the
sacrifices that mothers make for their
children. Yeah.
>> You know, and so my mom is one of those
people.
>> She sacrificed for me and my children.
>> She brought us here because she wanted
us to live.
>> Yeah.
>> She wanted us to thrive.
>> And to God be the glory, I'm thankful.
Yeah.
>> So, who's ready to date?
>> I um um I just say, you know, as I
reflect on this year, my mom was
perfectly imperfect.
>> Oh, nice. I got a dress that says that
girl. YES, that's fantastic. I love
that.
>> Beautiful person.
>> I love that.
>> Yeah. So, well, I will have to follow
your lead in this dance.
>> Okay. Um
>> [music]
>> Take the mic off.
>> Oh,
[music]
I got this.
>> You got it.
I think he got to play.
>> Lord have mercy.
>> Okay, we all got to be moving together.
Ready? Let's go this way first to the
right.
Two steps. Two steps. Two steps. Two
steps. Two steps. Two steps. Two steps.
Two steps.
>> [music]
>> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Okay.
>> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for
dancing with me.
Happy birthday, TC.