Underground Hip Hop artist and “Hood Motivational Speaker” turned author and CEO, Modello Brown brings positivity, love, and inclusivity to young readers with his children’s book series, set to expand with an animated series on YouTube and TikTok.
Modello Brown, an acclaimed author, CEO, illustrator, and former underground Hip Hop artist, is set to expand his venture—the “Hip Hop Littles” children’s book series. Known as a self-styled “Hood Motivational Speaker,” Brown draws inspiration from his challenging upbringing in one of Chicago’s most dangerous neighborhoods to motivate and uplift inner-city youth.
From the Streets of Chicago to Success
Growing up amidst high crime rates and limited opportunities, Modello Brown was determined to carve out a brighter future for himself. His passion for various art forms, including music, animation, and illustration, fueled his drive to create something meaningful. By 2016, he had established himself as a successful underground Hip Hop and R&B artist. Recognizing the power of art to bridge cultural divides, he founded Hip Hop Littles—a company dedicated to promoting unity, positivity, and love through books, animation, clothing, and music.
“Hip Hop Littles” Children’s Book Series
The “Hip Hop Littles” series introduces young readers to important life lessons and encourages them to navigate challenges with resilience and empathy. Its stories are designed to help children embrace diversity, form friendships, and stand up against racism, all while celebrating their unique qualities.
“Our differences make us special. But our values — positivity, love, inclusivity — these are what bring us together.” – Modello Brown
Nona’s Nerves
Aimed at children ages 3-8, this book addresses the anxiety that often accompanies trying something new and pursuing dreams. Nona, the main character, feels confident about her singing talent—until she sees the amazing abilities of her peers. The story explores how Nona overcomes her fears to shine on stage.
Jordan’s First Day
This story follows Jordan, a three-year-old boy starting at a new school. Nervous about making friends and fitting in, Jordan discovers a diverse group of classmates who welcome him warmly. The book teaches children about the importance of diversity, allyship, and finding comfort in new environments.
Expanding the Vision: Animated Series on the Horizon
In addition to the book series, Brown has announced an animated adaptation of “Hip Hop Littles,” set to debut on YouTube and TikTok in 2025-2026. The animated series will bring the beloved characters and their stories to life, reaching an even broader audience and reinforcing the values of positivity, love, and inclusivity.
The Hype Magazine got Modello to weigh in on a few things, including the journey, mission, and expansion of the franchise.
Modello, your journey from growing up in a tough neighborhood in Chicago to becoming a successful underground Hip Hop artist and children’s book author is truly inspiring. Can you share what motivated you to start the Hip Hop Littles series and how your background influenced this decision?
Although my company and music are refined by my upbringing in Chicago, most of my motivation comes from my mother and friends I’ve lost. Understanding the baggage is most important when you’re creating real-life situations from a childlike perspective. One of my closest high school friends was murdered over his child and another kid playing. His kid accidentally hit the parent of the other kid’s car with a rock, the guy got upset followed my friend into his house, and murdered him. My mother on the other hand had a very capricious life dealing with my father and her mother growing up as well. Acknowledging these incidents was the final push I needed to really piece together the Hip Hop Littles series, and company as a whole.
The Hip Hop Littles series deals with important themes like anxiety and facing new challenges. What message do you hope to convey to children who may be experiencing similar fears and anxieties, particularly through ‘Nona’s Nerves’?
Well, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition in the United States at like an 18% rate, so the focused message that’s being conveyed here is the value of friendship. Nona’s Nerves displays her friends reflecting on times they’ve encountered being afraid and another friend helping them through the tough time. Relying on a community of people you trust and love, to assist in controlling the levels of your anxiety can be crucial to you’re recovery.
You’ve mentioned using your books to teach children about cultural diversity and coexistence. How do you incorporate these themes into your storytelling, and why do you think it’s important for children to learn about them at an early age?
Displaying inclusivity within my characters allows children to endure comfort within themselves. Many of our children can’t and won’t understand the hoopla of interacting with someone who looks different from them. Parrying away from reality will only keep us as a divided culture. This entire world is built from networking and shaking hands with different races, and cultures of people. Being able to relate comfortably and understand others will only lead to a better future for our kids.
In ‘Jordan’s First Day,’ you address issues like racism and the importance of allyship. How do you approach these sensitive topics in a way that is accessible and understandable for young readers?
These sorts of topics are not extemporaneous in any way. I aggressively prepare the approach with a childlike perspective. Generally, we all know this is a harsh term that has to be navigated in such a way it’s not contradicting. For a child, I feel as if it’s used in a formality of right and wrong, then when they see such behavior in action they’ll know “Hey, that’s not nice”. Actions speak louder than words so, understanding the action is more vital to a child’s understanding than saying “Hey! That person is being racist”.
As a “Hood Motivational Speaker,” what are some of the key tips or advice you would give to parents and educators on encouraging kids to chase their dreams and overcome their fears, even when they’re nervous?
I always say, “The most magical things come from seeing things you could never imagine.” Educating a child on hardships tends to build character. If a child doesn’t understand diversity, let’s start there. Showing them individuals who are different but also the same, who have had rough upbringings but are successful, can have a huge impact on a child’s life. The world reacts to those who try, and your story only gets better because you know the author.
Music is a significant part of your life and work. How does Hip Hop culture influence the messages and themes in your children’s books, and how do you see music playing a role in transcending cultural barriers for kids?
The influence Hip Hop has is just the overall creative meaning, and why it started. Having something created for us as black people to call our own is monumental. Hip Hop is prominent in telling your personal stories, being heard, and uplifting others, all while featuring talent from other cultures, genres, and races. Music has been breaking barriers for years but not necessarily for our children. The music being promoted has a vivid projection of violence, which promotes children to reenact such behavior that it’s almost lost its sole purpose and meaning. This is another reason why Hip Hop Littles was created.
You’ve described your mission with Hip Hop Littles as bringing people together through art and music. Can you elaborate on how your books, animations, and other content contribute to this mission?
Our goal is to harness the universal language of music and storytelling to foster unity and positivity, emphasizing the power of support and love in shaping successful lives. All of the characters are very resolute in being moguls in the Hip Hop industry. Using tactics such as telling their personal stories, being heard, uplifting others, displaying family fun, and friendly environments. Every story will be lifelike and relatable to family households across the world, you will see every emotion displayed throughout our content. We are not looking to gaslight the world but to ignite it with our Littles.
Why do you feel is it important to let children express their feelings and how can books and storytelling aid in this emotional development?
My opinion is that it’s important to allow a child to express their feelings because essentially it’ll cause trauma. In many households predominantly in the African American culture as an adolescent, you’re punished or looked down on for crying or told not to cry. Taking this road in child development creates personal malfunctioning mentally and physically later in life which we like to call the “fight or flight state”. Books and storytelling open a gateway for the misunderstood to connect within themselves, which eventually helps them express themselves with their peers and family members to conduct better communication habits.
You’ve been successful in both the Hip Hop and literary worlds. What advice would you give to other kids growing up in challenging environments who aspire to carve out their own path in life?
Like I said before, you’re story only gets better cause you know the author. Take what’s around you and study the behavior, you are always a student in any profession you’re choosing to pursue. Learn to treat people for who they are not where they are. Just because someone is a millionaire doesn’t mean they are a better individual than someone who is working a 9 to 5. No one is free until we are all free, and those are just the facts.
In the industry, Modello Brown is often compared to Hip Hop’s version of Walt Disney due to its creative and inclusive content. How do you strive to balance educational value with entertainment in your work, and as CEO, what are your future goals for expanding the Hip Hop Littles brand?
Growing up I’ve realized no matter what has happened in my life, it had an effect on me in some shape or form. Education is not only poured and delivered by teachers and parents, but mainly from the things we encounter is what creates our understanding of what was poured to us. Mixing educational stones with the mud of everyday life will be impeccable for my content. More book series, music, animated cartoons, and movies. Modello Brown Creative Studios is in the works as well and that is where we will create such a higher impact for those who’ve seen things you could never imagine. When music brings culture together Little by Little…
Join the conversation with Modello Brown and the Hip Hop Littles on Instagram below:
About the Author
Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.
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