Sickle Cell Health Hop Hits Atlanta

Among the lyrics: "I'd like to mention sickle cell prevention. Pay attention, here comes the lesson. Lesson No. 1: Good hydration every day / be careful of stress / never overdo it / get plenty of rest." Click here for a sound sample - Real media

This musical communication tool will reach the pre-teen, teen and young adult patients with the right message to take charge of their health care. The new sickle cell rap will be available in about two months, after adding a audio physician consultation between the sections of the song.

The Clarke brothers wanted to counteract the negative messages and images music videos send to teens and young adults about violence, substance abuse, sex and suicide. So they conducted a study among 125 high school students in Queens, N.Y., and concluded that rap music would be an effective way to reach this age group. "We saw an increase in asthma and we wanted to find a way to reach young people," said Matthew.

"We get their attention first with the song and then they actively listen to the 15 minutes of information we present." Both he and John, have always dabbled in music. To date, they've produced five CDs that each contain a song, followed by medical information geared to reach adolescents and families.

Their first CD, which they initially launched in Canada, was titled "Asthma Stuff." It was designed to encourage adolescents with asthma to take their medications. The chorus of the song goes: "Two puffs of the asthma stuff twice a day stops the wheeze and helps you to breathe."

After the CD was released, they began to get requests to perform the rap live.

"We created the song but didn’t intend to perform it live," Matthew Clarke said. But they did perform it at schools in New York and other cities. They added a reggae version to make their performance more appealing. They even gained some rap star status: Many young people in the audiences asked for their autographs.

Other titles include: one on substance abuse titled "Have It All," another on stopping smoking titled "Bad Breath and Brown Teeth," a CD on youth violence called "Talk It Out," and a fourth on sex and the risks of HIV infection that portrays HIV as a gangster.

They are currently looking for funding to produce a music video to use as a public service announcement on MTV.

Heath Hop Music - Rap for Health http://www.healthhopmusic.com/  Dr. John Clarke  and Health Hop® Songs use an evidence based approach. All songs are written by Board Certified Family Physician Dr. John D. Clarke and are based on information gathered from a thorough review of literature and guidelines and recommendations set forth by organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Academy of Family Physicians, The Center for Disease Control, American Lung Association, American Academy of Asthma Allergy and Immunology and others.Email healthhopmusic@aol.com  and the phone number as 718-314-6027.

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Last modified: July 13, 2005