If my mood were a song title, it would be "Hip-Hop Hooray."
No fooling. This week, I'm ready to wave my hands in the air like I just don't care. I may have surprised some rap fans with that revelation.
This has not exactly been the best week in hip-hop history.
Sponsored by:
Hip Hop Hooray for Local Heritage Month
On Sunday, Lil Wayne and "it MC" Drake clowned themselves with their
sloppy showing at the BET Awards. On Monday, the embarrassing
rap/R&B beef between Eminem and Mariah Carey got uglier (literally)
with photos of Mimi dressed up as Marshall Mathers.
Even worse, on Wednesday, the venerable Vibe magazine ceased operations after 16 years in the game. But this is no time for depression, fellow hip-hop heads.
July marks the start of Chicago Hip-Hop Heritage Month, according to one of its founders and organizers, Amina Norman-Hawkins. The monthlong celebration promotes area hip-hop history through a series of rap-related activities, Norman-Hawkins said.
"When I was growing up, I found I knew a lot more about rap history on the West and East Coasts," Norman-Hawkins told me. "This is a way to spotlight Chicago music and culture."
Find more details on the official events at chihiphop.org. And if you still have space in your sked, check out these other acts:
Rewind it
If your knowledge of Chicago artist starts at Common, loops over to Lupe and culminates in Kanye, you've been robbed. Surf the Web and listen to vintage local lyricists, including '90s-era Twista, Crucial Conflict, Do or Die, Da Brat and Psycho Drama.
Wear it
Local T-shirt designer Dwamina Drew has put his threads--and
super cool slogans--on the backs of respected rappers. Why should you be left out? Visit enstru-mental.com and snag a shirt that makes a statement. My personal fave: "Rap - Lies = Hip Hop." Somebody tell that to Fiddy Cent and Jim Jones.
Reflect on it
Hear old-school songs and engage in audience participation during "I Still Love H.E.R. (atributetohiphop)," a stage play written by South Sider Wendell Tucker. The production--based out of the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts--gets going at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets are $18, but you get a $5 discount if you buy at the door and give the password: "thriller." Read more at thetheori.com.
Dance it
There are a host of hip-hop dance classes around town, but I'm intrigued by Lakeview-based Breakdance Chicago. Their most recent session started this week, but you can catch up if you join by Wednesday, according to executive director Brian Ekerman. Go ahead, unleash your inner "Electric Boogaloo." I just might meet you there.
Even worse, on Wednesday, the venerable Vibe magazine ceased operations after 16 years in the game. But this is no time for depression, fellow hip-hop heads.
July marks the start of Chicago Hip-Hop Heritage Month, according to one of its founders and organizers, Amina Norman-Hawkins. The monthlong celebration promotes area hip-hop history through a series of rap-related activities, Norman-Hawkins said.
"When I was growing up, I found I knew a lot more about rap history on the West and East Coasts," Norman-Hawkins told me. "This is a way to spotlight Chicago music and culture."
Find more details on the official events at chihiphop.org. And if you still have space in your sked, check out these other acts:
Rewind it
If your knowledge of Chicago artist starts at Common, loops over to Lupe and culminates in Kanye, you've been robbed. Surf the Web and listen to vintage local lyricists, including '90s-era Twista, Crucial Conflict, Do or Die, Da Brat and Psycho Drama.
Wear it
Local T-shirt designer Dwamina Drew has put his threads--and
super cool slogans--on the backs of respected rappers. Why should you be left out? Visit enstru-mental.com and snag a shirt that makes a statement. My personal fave: "Rap - Lies = Hip Hop." Somebody tell that to Fiddy Cent and Jim Jones.
Reflect on it
Hear old-school songs and engage in audience participation during "I Still Love H.E.R. (atributetohiphop)," a stage play written by South Sider Wendell Tucker. The production--based out of the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts--gets going at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets are $18, but you get a $5 discount if you buy at the door and give the password: "thriller." Read more at thetheori.com.
Dance it
There are a host of hip-hop dance classes around town, but I'm intrigued by Lakeview-based Breakdance Chicago. Their most recent session started this week, but you can catch up if you join by Wednesday, according to executive director Brian Ekerman. Go ahead, unleash your inner "Electric Boogaloo." I just might meet you there.
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5 Comments
BigTy said:
That was a great interview with Amina... (shameless plug) she and I go way back in hip hop... we were in the same rap group back in the day (/shameless plug). Also, by way of shameless plug, allow me to give props to the best MC that few people have ever heard of, Vakill. Combine Ras Kass' or Eminem's wordplay with Chino XL's punchline expertise, multiply that times about 5, and you get this absolute beast on the mic.
DJ HasH said:
Thanx for letting everyone know about Hip-Hop Heritage month! "I Still Love H.E.R" was an AMAZING play and I would love to go see it again!!! Also I'm honored to say that Dwamina Drew is a personal friend of mines that has laced me with some of his dope shirts. Including my personal favorite as well, the "Rap-Lies= Hip Hop" tee. :-)
Kyra Kyles said:
No problem, DJ HasH. You know how we do. You have to show me a pic of you in the shirt. I'll put it on the blog. :) Hip-hop forever!
Jonathan Desir aka Jon Blazini tha Edutainer said:
I'm very glad i'm starting to find a central place for real hip hop culture, thank you Kyra! Know it is appreciated... And stop playin, even though I was in Detroit at the time, Twista, Do or Die and Crucial was in heavy rotation!!!
Kyra Kyles said:
Well, thank you for coming! Do comment often...And if you have ideas, send it on over. Hip-hop is a mainstay in this neck of the InterWebs. We're also clearing some space for poetry, too. :)
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