Lifestyle

Meet Hugh Lee: Hip-Hop’s newest face of promoting mental health

Published

5 years ago

July 7, 2020

This young music sensation beautifully weaves in his childhood traumas into songs to reach the masses and make a positive difference in their lives.

Much is said about different artists around the world be it singers, musicians, actors, performers, comedians, etc. who try to display the emotions through their art out in the world by channelizing their innermost feelings from the deepest corners of their heart. This may be called their creative liberation because sometimes or may be most of the times they make their art an excuse to lay out their emotions which they otherwise hide from the eyes of the world. One such outstanding musical artist from the west side of Chicago is Hugh Lee, who has always tried to be a storyteller through his songs with the aim to touch the right chords of his listeners and audiences so that they deeply identify with what he creates and helps them in triggering only positive thoughts through his music.

Born in 1992, this young trailblazer of the music industry of the west has slowly but firmly made his name count amongst the legendary artists of America with being a two time Emmy nominated artist. He is a rapper, singer, and songwriter from the Austin neighborhood of Chicago. His songs speak his deepest emotions and feelings, and his exemplary rapping and singing abilities talk about his childhood traumas which he wishes must reach more masses.

Growing up in the projects of Chicago and been surrounded by violence, made him grow closer to music which led to the creations of tracks that spoke volumes about the struggles he faced as a child. Through his strategic music videos that are specifically designed to trigger the right the most positive emotions and thoughts in a human being, his music creates magic.

He completed his Bachelor’s in Psychology and studied from Indiana State University. He used psychology to his advantage and created music that talked about the mental struggles a person experiences in life. Lee also works non-profit with his company called Libras Never Lie, Inc. for making a difference in the lives of innercity youth by providing autism therapy analysis for the ones who can’t afford the services. The youth that he helps are the ones who already are diagnosed with autism, bi-polar disorder and many other mental and behavioral disorders.

Lee is also known for speaking on mental health in almost all his songs and that helps in creating a significant impact on people facing such issues. His song “Factitious” talks about the coming of PTSD and surviving an almost impossible set of tricks and traps set by those in power for blacks. Another of his track named “Graduation” speaks of how he goes against the many pharmaceutical companies who only focus on earning profits instead of actually helping in treating depression.

His musical art and rapping have made him earned the status of Hip Hop’s newest face for promoting mental health through his meaningful songs. After his first-ever mixtape “FRESHHEIR” became a huge hit, last year Lee released his first single ever from his debut album “CABRINI”.

To know more about this phenomenal musical artist, follow him on IG/Facebook/Twitter @Whoishughlee and also don’t forget to shower some love on his debut album CABRINI here – https://awal.lnk.to/VZ9TbYiA.

Lifestyle

The Future of Social Dancing: How Latin Dance is Adapting to a New Generation

Published

6 days ago

August 21, 2025

Michelle Langton

Latin dance thrives on connection. The music, the partner, and the crowd all feed one another.

Today, that connection is shaped by a younger, digitally fluent generation, and few understand the shift better than Damian Guzman, founder of Bachata Sensual America (BSA). From prize-winning festivals to late-night socials, Guzman and BSA show how the scene is evolving without losing its roots.

Streaming steps, viral beats

A decade ago, beginners to Latin dance hunted for grainy DVD tutorials; now they unlock entire combinations on their phones. TikTok loops, YouTube shorts, and Instagram reels have compressed learning into snack-sized bursts.

Many of the artists signed on with Bachata Sensual America meet dancers where they scroll, posting slow-motion breakdowns and “follow-along” drills that rack up thousands of views. This approach addresses two key Gen Z demands: instant access and a clear path from screen to floor.

By allowing newcomers to practice at home before facing a packed room, the online channel lowers the fear barrier while seeding a desire for in-person connection.

Festivals as entry points, not finish lines

Digital discovery is only the first act. For many people, their real baptism happens at multi-day events where practice hours blur into sunrise socials.

BSA’s flagship Houston Bachata Sensual Festival returned on May 2^nd, 2025, with a follow-up week slated for Bachata Sensual Festival Chicago, September 4^th-9^th, 2025. Both weekends pair technique labs with mental-wellness talks and DJs specializing in bachata, mirroring the playlists in dancers’ earbuds.

That balance of skills and community is why independent reviewers named BSA one of the “Top Latin Dance Festivals in the United States” for 2025. Yet, for Damian, awards matter less than the message: a festival can feel world-class without pricing out college students. He keeps passes tiered, encourages volunteer shifts that offset costs, and prepares bootcamps for absolute beginners, ensuring the dance floor reflects the same diversity he sees online.

Teaching culture, not just choreography

Bachata’s recent boom owes much to its European reinvention. Damian experienced that surge firsthand while earning one of the first U.S. instructor certifications in the Bachata Sensual style. He returned determined to give American dancers the same blend of precision and musicality he had experienced abroad.

BSA classes devote equal time to connection cues, body mechanics, and the genre’s Dominican roots. That trifecta resonates with younger students who want authenticity, not just a viral dip.

“In class I tell people, ‘Technique is how you respect your partner; musicality is how you respect the song,’” Guzman said during a recent podcast. The line distills his mission: elevate standards while keeping the dance welcoming.

Building inclusive, mindful spaces

Generation Z brings new expectations around consent, identity, and mental health. BSA’s code of conduct spells out everything from appropriate touch to gender-neutral role selection. Security staff mediate conflicts quickly, and workshop leaders open sessions with grounding exercises to calm nerves. These actions might sound small, yet they remove friction that once pushed many newcomers away.

Damian argues that such policies go beyond ethics; they future-proof the scene. Normalizing role fluidity in Latin dance widens its talent pool and invites richer musical interpretations. By acknowledging anxiety and overstimulation — common concerns for digital natives — events can retain dancers who might otherwise retreat after their first crowded social.

Latin dance has never stood still, and its next evolution is already spinning under disco lights from Houston to Helsinki. With a phone in every pocket and a festival on every calendar, the gap between discovery and mastery keeps shrinking.

Damian Guzman and Bachata Sensual America illustrate what happens when tradition listens, adapts, and leads with purpose. The result is a scene ready for whatever beat the next generation drops — and a future where social dancing feels more connected, inclusive, and alive than ever.