Hip Hop Congress

Weekly Update o5.o4.o5

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN CHICAGO:
The Fourth Annual International Hip Hop Congress Conference will be in Chicago this year from June 23rd to the 26th. We are really excited to see everyone there this year as we continue to build as an organization. The conference is a great time to get new ideas, contribute to incredible cultural events, as well as chart the future for the Hip Hop Congress.

This year is extremely important as we will be revisiting our Mission Statement.

Book your flights soon. I booked mine for the wrong weekend so make sure you get there on Thursday June 23rd and leave on Sunday June 26th or later.

Point of Interest: We will be creating a mission statement and having our national meeting on Friday so if you are a chapter board member or connected to a chapter and want to be involved in this exciting/integral process, please make sure to be in by Thursday evening.

Questions? Hit Jordan (jordan@hiphopcongress.com) or Ron: (ron@hiphopcongress.com).

Here is the itinerary:
Thursday, June 22
Evening Kick-off. Networking and Building Session. Opening comments. Awards.

Friday, June 24th
Day: HHC Mission and National Meetings. Workshops and Panels
Evening: Social Event/Party

Saturday, June 25th
10AM – Sunset: Huge Festival with performances, element areas, outdoor workshops.
Evening: Social Event/Party

Sunday, June 26th
Park Jam w. HHC members and Coalition Members

NEW FEMINISM COLUMN:

http://www.hiphopcongress.com/yourworld/feminism.html

What’s up HHC peoples? Sarah here…most of y’all probably remember me as the girl from Montana, but now I’m living in Oakland, Cali. I’m starting a column on the HHC website which explores the experience of women in the world of hip hop and what the implications of that are. I’ll be talking to a lot of different people in hip hop and then integrating all of the perspectives into the column. Y’all should check it out…

peace
Sarah Harris

CAL STATE FULLERTON:
What’s happenin, Congress?!?! What a great first semester Cal State Fullerton Hip Hop Congress had! We received recognition at our university; we grew from having 2 members (the co-founders/co-chairs) to 15 active, dedicated members; we’ve taken “field trips” to the KRS-One, The Roots show, and various events/shows within the OC/LA areas, plus held many dinners/get-togethers to enhance member relations; we’ve strengthened our bond to our local So Cal Chapters: UCI, USC, UCR, and CSULA; we got ourselves a radio internet show: Hip Hop Congress Radio ( http://www.titanradio.org ); we’re two days away from our first event- an open mic/floor jam called “Get Up to Get Down”; we got inducted by a 16-2-3 vote into the Association of Inter-Cultural Awareness- a group that promotes cultural awareness at Cal State Fullerton after much debate that “Hip Hop is NOT a culture” from opposing student organizations; we’re going to represent at this year’s National Conference in Chicago; AND we’re going to mad fundraise this summer, meet often to strengthen ties, and perfect our game, because come Fall 2005, we’re going to take over! Much love to National and all the other Chapters for encouraging words and support. Good luck on finals, congratulations to the grads, and have a great summer!

Peace!
-Trish (Co-Chair)

UC IRVINE:
UCI had an amazing year! We started the year off with the Invasion of Hip Hop VI featuring the Last Emperor, Time Machine, and Live Radio. The following quarter, we witnessed the birth of CSU Fullerton’s chapter, and began to collaborate closely with our neighboring chapter. During the Winter quarter, we also held the Hip Hop Film Festival, featuring the films Freestyle- the Art of Rhyme, Breath Control: the History of the Human Beat Box, and SBX. For the past couple weeks, we have been making the necessary preparations to make it to Conference in Chicago. We’re definitely looking forward to linking up with old friends and building new relationships.

peace,
Jeremy

INDIANA:
So its finals week here at IU and its time to reminisce on the good things congress has done this year. (Slick Rick voice) Heeeeeere we go-

The first congress related event this year was Half blown & 2Scoopz Malone’s CD release party. It was a very memorable evening as Aaron also turned 22 that night and decided it would be appropriate to start hitting on the “older women,” but let’s just say he picked the wrong one. Following that, we tried to promote and contribute to the voting drives. The first TRUE congress event was an outdoor MC battle co-sponsored by EA Sports and hosted by 2scoopz and Halfblown at the Collins Living/Learning Center. Andrew Shaw took that cake that night and it was all good – minus the cold. Next, in November, we cosponsored a lecture by Tess Taylor, the President and founder of the National Association for Record Industry Professionals (NARIP) in conjunction with Business Careers in Education Club. Things were pretty slow prior to the awareness festival during the cold cold winter, but in the midst of it all, we hooked up a show at the WIUS Station House featuring Abstraction (Andrew Shaw & Precise), Halfblown and 2Scoopz and the un-effin-forgetable Tone Def Systems from Lafayette, Indiana. (Side Note: don’t sleep on Tone Def) Also, I’m obviously leaving out the many many hours that went into planning different stuff, particularly the awareness festival, but I think it deserves mention because a lot of effort and time gets put into behind the scenes ish. So next, in anticipation of the Awareness festival, we decided to throw a bomb ass house party which was extremely successful except some genius stole the beer tap. No worry, minor setback. That night DJs, Metrognome, Sleeper and BurgleKuts held it down and we even had a little basement b-boy battle.

So finally the BIG thing – the 5th Annual Hip Hop Awareness Festival (aka. Aaron’s baby). This week was nuts. We kicked things off with a very small discussion on Hip Hop in the Media. The next day we got a much better turnout at a screening of “Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme”. Wednesday, Afeni Shakur, mother of the late 2pac, packed the IU Auditorium for what was essentially her book tour. Thursday we had a great evening with a Hip Hop Congress poetry slam. The winners that night, Pablo and Joe, took home $50 and a chance to open up for the Def Poetry showcase in April. Psalm-One and Thaione Davis came down for a spoken word performance as well. The next day, we had a great circle discussion led by the triumvirate: Ron, Jordan & Shamako. They dropped some knowledge on Congress history as well as hip hop in the class room, in the media, etc. That night the WIUS was blessed by Congress yet again with killer performances from Shamako, Twilight Sentinels and Mac Lethal. So Saturday was the big day of the big week. $1000 dollar B-Boy battle won by Chicago’s Motion Disorders crew. Naun-Sense caused a big upset as the crowd decided she beat Shamako in the last round of the $500 MC battle. Brother Ali topped it off with an awesome show that was everything that I expected from him. That night DJ TopSpeed hosted a DJ battle. None other than DJ Sleeper won that night, followed by runner up Simple Simon and in third place some dude named Xander? Mad props to Wushu, Metrognome, K-Tel, and Brakez that night. Evening was finally closed out by performances from Abstraction, Twilight Sentinels and Versatile.

Aaron and I were just battered after that weekend. I’m tired just after writing all that, BUT year is not over there. We cosponsored screenings and Q’n’A for two documentaries “Panthers in Africa” and “Channels of Rage” (about Israeli and Palestinian hip hop). We hosted a “Jokes on Jokes” April Fools MC battle/house party where Halfblown won and some hidden Bloomington MCs decided to show their faces. We celebrated Asian History month with Boston’s Snacky Chan, locals, DJ Tom Slick and Versatile, and F5 records’ Agile-One. We co-sponsored a Def Poetry showcase featuring 3 Atlanta Def Poets. The winners of the Awareness Festival Poetry Slam opened up and the illusive dj Xander provided some other audible delights. Last but not least, Aaron’s dream came true and the Roots, who he has been trying to bring down here for some time, finally came to Bloomington.

Ok, so this doesn’t become a book I just want to give some final shout outs and honorable mentions. Big thanks to Tim and Calvin who really came through at the end of the year. Thank you for all media outlets that gave us attention (Radio One, IDS, Herald Times, etc). Big thanks to my man DJ Sleeper for compiling both the first and second hip hop congress mix tape. Big thanks to all the graf artists that put up the firm HHC graf mural in Bloomington. Big up BurgleKuts, Tom Slick and Metrognome for being sick dj’s and faithful Congress supporters that always come through. VERY HONORABLE MENTION – our sister/brother/cousin-twice-removed organization, IU Breakers, lead by Jullian have been a HUGE help this year. Besides that, over this year, the club has acquired it strongest membership to date. Thanks to Chino, Nihn and Sunni for everything. Ben James too, no doubt. We look forward to Nihn taking over the club next year.

Lastly, I’d like to say it feels a little weird writing this, because most of the above events are achievements that I really credit Aaron Berkowitz with. Ultimate props to him for his efforts and commitment and teaching me a lot of stuff I wouldn’t know otherwise.

Well that has been the 04/05 IU Hip Hop Congress year in review. If you got this far, you deserve some sort of award because there are still many more chapters to read about.

Peace all – see you in June
Ale(Xander)

INDIANA STATE:
HipHop4One successfully completed its first semester as a student organization and member of Hip Hop Congress. We had Round 2 of our MC Battle last night, 4/27. We had a nice turnout and a fun battle, along with some performances by local talents Tell Ross, The Aspect, and J Webb. Also in attendance was the promoter for Stat Quo, Shady-Aftermaths newest inked artist. He gave away numerous Stat Quo t-shirts, CD’s. and Green Lantern CD’s. It was hot. Bigger and better things next year. I’m Out.

Mydas

UNIVERSITY OF HIP-HOP/FOTA 2005:
The Magic 7- 7 Lessons, 7 Continents, 7 Generations of Hip-Hop Community Arts Nfo Xpo May 22, 2005 at the University of Chicago Reynold_s Club 5700 S. University Chicago, Ill-Noize

You are invited!

This year the University of Hip-Hop will be exposing youth and adults from various communities to hip-hop as education and community service. In previous years we have performed in the venues of rap and the graffiti arts, to demonstrate the energy and skills inherent in these street art cultures. Demonstrations will also include poetry and educational curriculum and design. For 2005 the University of Hip-Hop is following the theme: Seven Lessons, Seven Continents, Seven Generations. There will be performances and educational workshops offered by University of Chicago UHH participants, youth from Kenwood Academy and young artists from the Southwest Youth Collaborative.

We will have a (1) rap cipher and breaking demonstration, where youth present politically and socially conscious rhymes that they have written for UHH projects. There will also be (2) a spoken word demonstration where youth from Kenwood Academy will present poems that have written on similar issues. As in previous years, we will also do a (3) mural demonstration where experienced and respected graffiti artists from the Chicago area will demonstrate painting techniques on boards. We will have an (4) educational outlooks display, and will set up tables with documentation of hip-hop as community service and social transformation. In addition, we will offer three brief workshops where we will present (5) lesson plans by students and educators of UHH. Using a projector and a blank wall space, sheet, or screen there will also be (6) a multi-media demonstration, where we will show two videos about the UHH and the projects in progress. Lastly we will offer a (7) fun feast, or a table where the audience may eat food and enjoy the social environment.

The _Art, Community, and Activism_ class at the U of C will also be sponsoring a Community Arts Nfo Xpo, where different organizations will provide information and workshops about the work they do with the arts and communities. Any organization interested in having a table should contact rezorach@uchicago.edu.

For more information on the overall event, contact stylekillers@yahoo.com

Thanks again,
Raven

MINDGAMES EMCEE BATTLE:
The Academy of Hip Hop at the Reikes Center presents Mindgames: An Emcee Battle @ the Cage
32 man emcee battle for $500
$20 entry fee
8 team 2 on 2 battle for $300
$30 entry fee
May 7th, 2005
1-5PM
$10 at the door $7 w/flyer or internet posting

Performances by:
Dem-One
D Labrie/ Tha A.L.L.I.A.N.C.E.
Nac-One
Big Murph
GTA
Students of the Riekes Center Academy of Hip Hop
and the Boys and Girls Club of Redwood City
Live Painting by David Seiler

On the wheels of steel:
Ren the Vinyl Archeoligist (True Skool)
Tone Def (KMEL)
Dj Wreckanoise
Hosted By Shamako Noble
with surprise guest judges
3455 Edison Way
Menlo Park, Ca 94025
For more information please contact 408-551-9728 or e-mail shamako@riekes.org
www.riekes.org or www.humanenhancement.net

RON BLAH BLAH BLAH:
That is the weekly update. Hope everyone is doing well. I had a great time at Jazz Fest this past weekend in New Orleans. Something about watching music for a good 30 hours or so that will do that to you.

Peace and Love,
Ron Gubitz
Hip Hop Congress

“I FEEL THE MUSIC” —Rebirth Brass Band (I put it in all caps so you could MAYBE have a glimmer of the joy, power, and tuba-acity that they play this song with, as well as hear the whole crowd singing it back.)