Though educational videos like Baby Einstein have recently taken a beating in the press, one Chicago "mompreneur" knows that videos can help children learn – especially if set to music.

Three years ago, Candi Carter founded 'It's Hip Hop Baby' merging her love of hip-hop with her desire to meet the needs of her developmentally challenged son, Emerson.

"In 2006, when my son was three years old I created the first DVD," recounts Carter. "I love hip-hop, I love old school hip-hop. I was just watching TV and It came to me."

'It's Hip Hop Baby' uses the beats and dances of hip-hop to introduce little ones from toddlers to kindergarten the basics – ABCs, 123s and even concepts such bedtime and brushing your teeth. And with It's Hip Hop Baby, music is the key in getting children to connect.

"I think this idea of using music really is something that works," explains Carter. "Everybody's kids are at different levels and have different abilities but I did find with a lot of children that music is a commonality. If you can't carry a tune but you can sing an instruction, then it works. That's how this whole thing started. I was singing about going to bed and I was singing about bath time and my son would get excited. I would sing about peanut butter and that's how he learned how to say peanut butter. I think however a parent wants to do it, music and movement can really, really tap into the spirit of children who can't always express themselves."

Though the origin of the company came from Candi's work with her son, 'It's Hip Hop Baby' is targeted to all children along the developmental spectrum. According to the It's Hip Hop Baby website, the videos " feature child-friendly dance routines that help your child develop listening skills and the ability to follow simple directions."

After it won the iParenting Award, Carter says she began getting emails from mothers all across the country to make a CD. She entered into a joint venture with Warner Music Group to the music CD and to produce new videos including best sellers like 'All Your Child's Favorites', dealing with letters, colors, and animals and 'Things We Do Everyday', explaining bathtime, bedtime, brushing your teeth, and riding on the school bus. In all, Carter's company has produced four DVDs and a one music CD.

Carter, who has invested countless precious hours and over $150,000 into her venture, says that this year is a critical one for her business. The entrepreneur is diligently plugging away and using social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to take 'It's Hip Hop Baby' to the next level.

"One of the ways we've been getting the word out is through social networking sites," she says. "We have 1,300 moms following us on twitter but we have access to 13,000 moms on Twitter which were all blasted when we did our launch. I would say we've reached more than half a million moms just through the internet."

And how does this full-time producer (the day job), mother of two children -- one with special needs -- wife and entrepreneur find time to do it all?

"Honestly, every spare moment that I have where I'm not dealing with my kids I jump on [the computer] and start working because I'm so inspired," says Carter. " I've gotten so many amazing and emotional letters from parents, letters from regular kids as well as kids with special needs on how much they love the DVDs and what it does for them and that just keeps me going."

To purchase 'It's Hip Hop Baby' CDs and DVDs, please go the Website, www.itshiphopbaby.com or go to Amazon.com.