Hip-hop is celebrating 50 years as a music genre this month, and some Long Islanders have been part of its journey.

Freeport native Cassandra Jackson, also known as 1/2 Pint from Son of Bazerk, started her musical journey in 1990 on a basketball court at Centennial Park in Roosevelt when she was 17.

"I was talking trash and junk talking because that's what we do on the court and this guy comes to me and says, 'You sound like you can make music,'" Jackson says.

Music producer and Public Enemy founder Hank Shocklee tapped Jackson to join the music group.

For 23 years, Jackson says she has used her hip-hop music to empower people.

"My message is about having fun and having a good time, but also utilizing that opportunity to mobilize our people to let them know to be authentically and courageously themselves and also loving yourself and loving each other," Jackson says.

DJ Johnny Juice Rosado, of Public Enemy, also says his Long Island roots launched his career. He was born in the Bronx but moved to Warwick Street in Uniondale at age 12.

He says he met Busta Rhymes in elementary school and takes pride in inspiring lives with his music to push for justice and harmony.

"A lot of the messages resonated with a lot of people, and it raised an awareness to the point where people said they went to college because of Public Enemy or they seeked higher education in case they seeked office to make change," Rosado says.

LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, The Fat Boys and De La Soul also helped create the hip-hop scene on Long Island.