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

Confronting Propaganda: Street Smart Documents Honest Reactions to Gaza Indoctrination Footage

Published

5 days ago

November 6, 2025

Michelle Langton

Photo Courtesy of: Street Smart

Byline: Michelle Langton

In a recent project, the Street Smart team gathered 20 strangers and presented them with propaganda footage from Gaza that has circulated widely online but remains largely unfamiliar to many audiences. The aim wasn’t to provoke outrage or test media literacy in a classroom setting. It was to capture raw, unfiltered emotional reactions to material that reveals how narratives are formed at the source. The resulting video offers a candid look at how people process shocking content and how their perceptions shift when they see what is rarely shown on mainstream platforms.

The Structure of the Experiment

The format was simple. Participants were seated and shown a series of clips from Gaza, including children’s programming and broadcasts containing intense ideological messaging. No background information was provided, and viewers were not instructed on how to interpret what they were seeing. After watching, they were asked for immediate reactions.

The footage elicited a wide range of emotions. Some viewers were stunned by the content, admitting they had never seen anything like it before. Others expressed disbelief, questioning why this kind of material isn’t more widely discussed. A few were visibly shaken, saying the experience fundamentally altered their understanding of the situation.

By presenting the footage without narration or added commentary, Street Smart allowed participants’ genuine responses to emerge. The experiment revealed how propaganda can affect an entire generation. It can shock, unsettle, and force people to reconsider their assumptions.

Why This Project Matters

Sage Fox and Dorani aligned the purpose of this experiment with Street Smart’s broader mission of challenging prevailing narratives and encouraging critical thought among younger audiences. In an environment where footage spreads rapidly across digital platforms, propaganda can shape public opinion long before context catches up.

By showing the Gaza Indoctrination footage in a controlled setting and recording uncoached responses, the team aimed to expose the emotional and cognitive impact of this type of content.

“The first reaction is often the most revealing, because it shows how powerful images can be without context.”

The Range of Reactions

While each participant brought their own perspective, several themes emerged. Some expressed sympathy with the imagery itself, saying it was emotionally powerful.

One participant said, “It makes me question what I see online every day. How much of it is shaped this way?”

Their comments highlight how propaganda resonates differently depending on prior knowledge and exposure. Many viewers have simply never encountered such footage directly.

Street Smart’s Approach

This project continues a pattern established by Sage Fox & Dorani’s earlier videos. Rather than relying on experts or lengthy analysis, Street Smart focuses on real people and their honest reactions. The approach is simple but effective. Present potent material, listen to what people say, and share those moments with a wider audience.

The Gaza Indoctrination footage experiment fits this model. It doesn’t attempt to draw final conclusions or offer political commentary. Instead, it documents how people respond when they’re exposed to narratives that are usually filtered through intermediaries.

Implications for Media Literacy

Beyond its viral potential, the video raises broader questions about how people interact with powerful imagery online. Propaganda operates on emotional reflexes. As this experiment shows, those reflexes are often unexamined until they’re brought to the surface.

Sage Fox & Dorani hope that projects like this push audiences to think more critically about what they see and share.

“The purpose is not to tell people what to believe. It is to remind them that every image comes from somewhere, and that source matters,” they said.

Next Steps for Street Smart

As Street Smart’s platform grows, Sage Fox & Dorani plan to conduct similar experiments in different contexts. They intend to use their direct, street-level approach to highlight how people react when presented with challenging material.

The Gaza footage project is one piece of a larger mission. The team uses simple methods to shed light on complex issues. By focusing on authentic reactions, they continue to build a unique space in online media that blends cultural investigation with raw human response.

A Window into Unfiltered Thought

“We showed 20 strangers real propaganda footage from Gaza — and filmed their unfiltered reactions” is not a dramatic exposé or academic study. It is a clear, unmediated record of how individuals respond when confronted with material designed to persuade. In that restraint lies its strength.

By documenting these moments, Street Smart shows how awareness can begin with a pause. A brief space between seeing and believing.