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In 1996, KRS-ONE, with the support of Professor Z, Chuck D, Big Daddy Kane, Kool DJ Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Fat Joe, and others announced the establishment of a Hip Hop preservation society called the Temple of Hiphop. The purpose of the Temple of Hiphop was (and still is) to assist in the building of Hip Hop as a legitimate community of prosperous and peace-filled people. The Temple of Hiphop teaches ancient spiritual knowledge through the language and experience of modern-day ‘Hiphop Kulture'. Members of the Temple of Hiphop (Temple Members) approach Hip Hop far beyond music entertainment. For Temple Members Hip Hop is an alternative behavior capable of raising one's self-awareness, self-worth, and self-respect. Through the Temple of Hiphop, KRS-ONE coined profound affirmations including, "Rap is something we do. Hip Hop is something we live!" as well as, "We are not just doing Hip Hop, we are Hip Hop." and "I am Hip Hop!" Declarations like these helped solidify the message that Hip Hop is not just a collection of music and dance products, but is the collective consciousness of a real community. In 1997, the Temple of Hiphop organized the first census of Hip Hop's cultural existence. More than 80,000 people from around the world responded to basic questions such as: What is Hip Hop? as well as, How may we improve Hip Hop? The results of that census helped to complete the Gospel of Hiphop and confirmed the strength of an international, unified Hip Hop voice - a voice that is politically aware, spiritually minded and socially active. This more ‘conscious' Hip Hop community consists of those who acknowledge and participate in Hip Hop beyond entertainment. In 1998 the Temple of Hiphop announced every third week in May as Hip Hop Appreciation Week - a time set aside to assess the progress of the ‘conscious' Hip Hop movement as well as one's own role within such a movement. The Temple of Hiphop would also be an advocate against corporate greed and the selfish exploitation of Hip Hop's intellectual properties. The point was (and still is) to live Hip Hop.The Temple of Hiphop operates within four departments which are called its "M.A.S.S." or ministry, archive, school and society. As a ministry, the Temple of Hiphop seeks to relieve human suffering through an awareness of useful spiritual knowledge and the actualization of one's true life purpose. The Temple of Hiphop is a self-realization ministry believing that God speaks through one's true purpose in life. As an archive, the Temple of Hiphop seeks to collect and document Hip Hop's material experiences in the world. Its aim is to develop a traveling Hip Hop exhibit and an official Hip Hop museum and archive for the study of Hip Hop as an international cultural movement. As a school, the Temple of Hiphop seeks to correctly teach the meaning, purpose and proper uses of Hip Hop to all interested students. "We believe that a good education does not prepare you for the job market exclusively. We believe that a good education helps you to realize and prefect your true life purpose. Such an education helps YOU to become a better YOU". Finally as a Hip Hop society, Temple Members seek to help and mentor one another through the challenges of life. You simply must be; 12 years of age or older, registered with the Temple of Hiphop, own at least one copy of the Gospel of Hiphop (a study manual that accompanies the ‘Hiphop' lifestyle) and you must love Hip Hop to call yourself an official "Temple Member". Apprenticeships, teaching positions, live concert and lecture touring apprenticeships are also available.