KRS-One just kicked off his fourth annual hip-hop appreciation week Monday May 14 in New York. Produced by the rapper's Temple of Hip-Hop Kulture, the eight-day series of events (May 14 - May 21) is meant to celebrate hip-hop culture, raise money for charity, promote social consciousness and "decriminalize hip-hop's public image." KRS-One, Chuck D, and DJ Ralph McDaniels will lecture all week during the event that consists of talks to independent movie screenings. The Reverend Al Sharpton is scheduled to come out and show support. On Wednesday there will be a screening of the seminal hip-hop flick "Wild Style" with producer Charlie Ahearn and legendary rap troupe The Cold Crush brothers on hand to answer questions. Wise Intelligent of the Poor Righteous Teachers and Chuck D will be among the MC's discussing their views on rap at a town meeting with members of the Harlem community. McDaniels will host a block party in Brooklyn on Sunday and KRS-One will be inducted into! the Bronx Walk Hall of Fame earlier that morning. He joins the company of other Bronx natives like Rita Moreno, Red Buttons and Stanley Kubrick. Later that night he will perform at S.O.B.'s for a fundraiser. The proceeds from the benefit will go to the urban arts programs at Long Island City, Queens Robert F. Wagner Secondary School of the Arts. Students at Wagner have the option of enrolling in the school's elevated arts program, where music industry professionals hold workshops to teach kids video directing, graphic design, graffiti drawing and breakdancing. A lack of funds threatened to end the program so one of the school's teachers asked KRS-One for help. He agreed to make the benefit a part of the week's activities. There are plans for next year's appreciation week underway. KRS founded the Temple of Hiphop in 1997 in order to promote and protect the nine elements of hip-hop, which he described in his statement as "Breakin, Emceein, Graffiti Art, Deejayin, Beatb! oxin, Street Language, Street Knowledge, Street Fashion and S! treet Entrepreneuralism." KRS said the membership in his non-profit organization has grown to 25,000. KRS and his organization have put into action a voter registration drive, and in 1999 a Temple of Hiphop Kulture compilation album was released featuring artists such as Xzibit, Big Daddy Kane and Ras Kass.