WBEZ Chicago and Vocalo.org radio presented its fourth annual Winter Block Party for Chicago's Hip-Hop arts at the Metro concert hall Saturday, January 21. This festival was so good I had to blog about it.
Think about what comes to mind when you think Hip Hop. Now hold off on that thought and read this. Full of energy, poetics, athleticism and plain old street toughness WBEZ Hip Hop Winter Block Party gave audience an experience to remember with live spoken word poetry, film, graffiti art, and live break dancing contest. Read on and don't miss next year's WBEZ Winter Block Party for Hip-Hop Arts.
Normally I take camera to capture everything but this was an event that can only be experienced to truly appreciate it. The all day event began with a film "The People Speak" inspired by historian Howard Zinn's books "A People's History of the United States" and "Voices of a People's History of the United States". Following the film live spoken word and Q&A by some of Chicago's best poets including host Roger Bonair-Agard and performance by Chance the rapper. I sat among a captivated audience who absorbing every word rhyme sound like breathless musings but in end each poet like Chicago's thoroughly communicated their ideas about love, loss, and influential music.
The main event of day was live 'breaking' contest. My only real experience with break dancing was as a kid show in my jerking arm 'wave' dancing with friends. This break dancing 'battle' at Metro stage was super charged version of my childhood experience. A live DJ spinning on stage spun funky hip hop remix of James Brown " I Got Soul And I'm Super Bad" I felt like I was transported to sidewalk on a street corner summer's day encircling breakers in the street. This was a hot contest of athletics, aesthetics, and bravado performed by a diverse mostly men white and Asian, and black youths. A few 'B-girls' also showed off their talents.
There has been an evolution of hip hop in America. The movement began in 1980s with a Jamaican Kool DJ Herc in Bronx whose fusion of reggae rap at dance parties he organized for teens. Today Hip Hop has grown to international level include dance moves reminiscent of Brazilian capoeira and music by mega superstars like Kanye West. Hip Hop embraces a generation of urban youths who express their angst, insecurities, love, anger through its music, dance, and poetry.
Watching breakers on stage I oohed, aahed and bopped my head to the thumping beats of DJ spinning. The battle between the teams had ego, athletics, toughness and grace. Each person got chance to show off their moves head spins, hand stands, arm jerks torso twists, and back flips. Through their moves each team improvised and communicated language that we in audience all understood. In the end each team hugged reminded me sportsmanship of boys in little league shaking hands at end of game.
Excited to see what's next on Chicago's hip hop scene. WBEZ and Vocalo.org showed that Chicago's hip hop scene is America's true urban cultural art form.
