Hip Hop Congress

Weekly Update 11.16.o5

FIRST MINNESOTA HIP HOP CONGRESS REGIONAL SUMMIT:
Peace everyone!

For the first time ever, the Hip Hop Congress (www.hiphopcongress.com) will host a regional Summit in the state of Minnesota. The Summit will feature performances, workshops, and discussions featuring numerous artists from around the country and the world.

Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, will be the host for the event hosting people from throughout the region and the country. If you are unable to attend, please let anyone you know who is in the region or who may hold an interest in the event.

For additional information, please do not hesitate to email Amer@hiphopcongress.com or call 218-299-3872.

*Please note, performance schedules are filled so we are unable to accept requests for performances at the Summit.

Information for the Summit will be posted on the website by next week.

THE BEAT STARRING HHC BOARD MEMBER RAHMAN:
As far as The Beat goes, the DVD is scheduled for retail-store release March 2006 nationwide. Right now it is available from Blockbuster, Hollywood Video, and Netflicks. I’m working on getting some special features on the DVD to plug HHC, but as of yet there are no guarantees. For anyone who’s seen it that wants to write up a quick review of the film, email me at hiphoppa13@aol.com with your mailing address and I’ll send you a copy of “Outside the Box”, the 16-track solo LP I’m dropping next year for review as well. I’m also looking to do interviews to include in my press kit.

THE FUTURE CHAPTER AT CONCORDIA COLLEGE – MOORHEAD, MN
On Friday Nov.11, we had our first Coordinating Committee meeting for the HHC Minnesota Summit planned for Feb. 17-19. The meeting had a great collection of students from Concordia, Minnesota State-Moorhead, and North Dakota State. We’re really excited about the Summit.

On Saturday Nov. 12, we had Alex Schein and ‘Kanser’ from Minneapolis perform. Over 150 people attended and we built great momentum for the Summit and the future. Students have expressed interest in creating a chapter on campus.

On Sunday Nov. 13, Won Yup Kim, a graffiti artist from Chicago, painted a mural on our Intercultural Center’s wall…people have already been amazed by it…it’s really changed the whole vibe of the room and making it a place people want to be…

keep on movin’ and groovin’…peace…One…amer

WASH U:
WU chapter is coolin out, we had a cipher/writing session on Saturday, and plan to make it weekly. A song might be coming out of this past week’s session too. For thems that haven’t yet heard the crunk song of the century, email me and I’ll be happy to send it along.

Peace
Yoni

SAN JOSE STATE:
What’s crackin’ Congress? Last week we had a discussion on “what is hip-hop to you”? where we discussed what we thought on that. We also planned our HHC Banquent for this Friday at Pedro’s in Santa Clara, where we are trying to get our grub on. Other then that we are trying to get the mixtape vol. #2 touched up for the finished product. aite folks holla back. one.

CAL STATE FULLERTON:
Werd up folks. Fullerton chapter is having its first event of Fall 05′ called “Revival of the Fittest”. DJ’s Frank[E] and Concise of the Beat Hackers will be holding us down as we are blessed with the musical stylings of Deux Process, Fresh Air, and HHC’s own Rahman Jamaal. It’s going down on Thursday @ 8:30 in the TSU Underground on the Cal State Fullerton campus. You can also count on our presence at UCI’s Invasion of Hiphop on Wednesday and Cal State L.A’s Bring your skills on sat.

Peace
Eric

HHC RADIO:
DJ Borna rockin and shockin that ass w/ audible treats that would make the most sugary kool-aid seem not so sweet.

TUE 9pm PST www.titanradio.org

Gone!
Gesundheit

WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY:
The Awareness show on 11/11 was very successful. Opio movie is very good! It does an amazing job of situating the Hip Hop community in a predominately white region. If you want a copy let me know. The movie is low budget, but the story line is top notch. The Bboy battles, Emcee freestyle battle and Unexpected Arrival represented our first festival well. The Foot Clan from Eugene came up, Floor brats out of Portland rolled down. But it was The Ill Nasty from Salem that took 1st in the bboy battle. Local youth from the Salem boys and Girls Club also performed there own routines and enjoyed the demonstrations and battle competitions. Many of them stayed through the entire show. During the breaks in battles I spoke with the crowd about the anniversary of Hip Hop, its significance and discussed the 4 basic elements of Hip Hop and the mission of the Hip Hop Congress.

The Freestyle battle was cool. There were only 6 entrants, but all of them had skills. This dude Aaron from a crew called Hot Pursuit, just killed all the fools on the stage. Just don’t call this dude Rabbit! He did take our meager $50 purse no problems.

Unexpected Arrival puts on a great show. He made sure to keep the crowd into it, and the tracks he spit were tight. If you all are looking for a good up and comer, this is your man for the job. He’s coming out of my hometown Seattle, so big ups for that. If y’all are looking for some good talent, checkout his website www.unexpectedarrival.com.

As for the Art Wall graffiti project, the school did not decide to pursue any further action. It did get some immediate attention, but after our statement came out that this was “A cultural expression to bring awareness to one of the fundamental elements of Hip Hop” it was cool. We did not get our desired press, oh well.

Next event on 12/9!

Peace,
A

LORAS COLLEGE:
We just finished a performance for Culture Night and it went off very well. We are working on our show which is Wednesday, November 16th at 7:30pm. It is an educational event about the history of Hip Hop Culture and combating stereotypes that people have of Hip Hop. Our next project is a breakdancing competition held here at Loras next semester. If anyone has any resources that could help us out with this we would really like some help. (allison.evans@loras.edu) Until next week…

TEXAS STATE:
Salutations! This is HHC over here at Texas State University- San Marcos! This past week has just been a lot of concentration on promoting our freestyle battle on December 3 (Xmas themed: the mic before xmas) we had bus ads made to promote the event there was a Student Organization Council here at the student center, it requires that a rep from each org meets to get caught up with the latest regulations and services the campus activities office can offer.

USC:
What up?! Twelve weeks into the semester and ten emails later…brought to you by the good folks at Hip-Hop Congress here at the University of Southern California. The semester is coming to a close here at USC. Good luck on all those upcoming finals. This week HHC will be meeting in Taper Hall of Humanities Room #208 at 7 p.m. And we’re only two weeks away from the main event! We’re planning our monumental USC vs. UCLA battle for Ground Zero on Wednesday, Nov. 30. from 9:30-11pm. Yeah, it’s like that! Crazy ridiculous! Off the chain! More details to come as the semester winds to a close. This week we got an article entitled “African Documentary ‘Hip-Hop Colony’ Takes Top Honors At H2O Film Fest” By Kye Stephenson and Nolan Strong, that the heads at SC are sending out to HHC here. Till the next update. Holla back. Respect. HHC.

INDIANA UNIVERSITY:
IU Chapter Still Commin’ Strong…

This week:
Wednesday, we are having the 3rd installment of the Black Curtain Black Theater Group/HHC spoken word series. This series has been ill with the second event, featuring world runner-up slam poet, Versiz, reaching attendance of more than 300. We are confident that this one will not disappoint as well.

Check out the pictures from the last event featuring world-runner-up slam poet Versiz! Courtesy of Sheynkman Photography: http://sheynkman.fotki.com/portfolio/photography/event/versiz__indiana/.

Also, Bloomington’s own DFS Sound hosted the first of their monthly “Battle Grounds” mc battle series. It was ill and we picked up some solid connections and hopefully some more submissions to the mixtape. Big up to AD for taking the $300 cash prize home and congress veteran mc, Andrew Shaw, for picking up 2nd place ($100 gift certificate).

We are also in the process of getting the IU Breakdance Club (an HHC subgroup) registered as an official club sport so that they will have access to all the facilities necessary to keep doing what they do. Also, since the breakdance club will be part of the school’s Rec. Sports program, the “Hip Hop Congress Breakdance Club” will get plenty of free advertising, which is always nice.

HIP HOP CONGRESS MIXTAPE– ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS
The Hip Hop Congress 05/06 Mixtape will be dropping mid-January. Our goal is to have at least 50% of the content come from Congressians both, local (Indiana) and national. These mix tapes will be sold for $1 a piece to raise money for the 6th Annual Hip Hop Awareness Festival in February.

Submission Guidelines:
-Make a demo of up to 5 songs, or submit a CD with indication of the 5 songs you want considered for the mixtape. MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE CONTACT INFO ON YOUR SUBMISSION.
-You may submit full tracks, acapellas, instrumentals, turntablist productions, etc.
-The DJs compiling the mixtape have the right to contact submitting artists and request freestyles/acapellas/instrumentals, etc.
-No artists work will be used without their approval
-Factors of consideration: contribution to community, message, previous involvement with HHC, aesthetics (aka what it sounds like).
-Previous involvement with IU HHC is NOT a prerequisite, all submissions are welcome.
-All styles of hip hop related music welcome. Key board beats, drum machines, MPCs, its all love. Trip Hop? Old School? Funk? Commercial? Absolutely, submit it all.
-If your music is pressed on vinyl, you may get preference

You may submit your demo by mail to:
Ale(Xander)
321 E. 14th St.
Apt 10G
Bloomington, IN 47408

SUBMISSION DUE DATE: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9

Questions/comments/ideas for the mixtape? Email Alex at djXander4life@yahoo.com

UC IRVINE:
Its about that week! this Wednesday November 16th, we are throwing our first Invasion of Hip Hop of this year. it’ll be the seventh one so far, count em, SEVENTH! and its the biggest one yet. we’ve been working our butts off to make this happen right…and you know…i think it just might. So today is when it all goes down for us at Illvine…and tomorrow (thursday) is when Fullerton will be having their ish…Revival of the Fittest. I think its hip hop week in so cal ya’ll….and if you’re not here…you’re greatly missed. PICS will be up by next update…or just visit our myspace….http://www.myspace.com/hiphopcongressuci

nothin but love,
anh

SAN DIEGO STATE:
We successfully hosted our first event at San Diego State University. We had a pretty good turn out considering it was our first event and we didn’t have any type of budget for this event. Big ups to the UCI HHC crew that came out. Thanks sooo much for the support guys. Sorry we won’t be able to make it to your event this week, but we’ll definitely try to hook up with you guys next week. Dec. 2nd is our next event also held at San Diego State University. Other than that, planning for future events and programs.

LJ
SD HHC Chair

BOOKS:
“Lyrical Swords Vol. 2: Westside Rebellion” by Adisa Banjoko. LS Vol. 2 will drop Dec. 15th 2005.

LS Vol. 2 is a collection of interviews and essays about Hip Hop and the social, economic and spiritual trends in the subculture. It also covers the prison industrial complex, the power of non-violence, various family issues and the influence of chess in the Hip Hop Industry. Interviews from Rza, Afrika Bambaataa, Frontline, The Coup, Mix Master Mike, Run DMC, Jam Master Jay and many others are featured in LS Vol. 2. For more information please visit: www.lyricalswords.com.

Hostile Takeover by David Sirota
The entire book is truly nonpartisan, and all about how corporate interests have taken over our government, and made sure economic policy is designed to bleed America’s working class dry. The book goes over 10 core economic issues that affect ordinary people’s daily lives, and shows how our bought off politicians are parroting corporate PR designed to make us think public policies are designed to help us, when in fact they are designed to squeeze us. The book goes after politicians of both parties by name, and then offers an alternative vision as to how the current public policies that hurt us could easily be made better. And the book is written in handbook format – so readers don’t have to read the whole thing, but can use it as a reference guide. It is really designed to be the average person’s guide to not being bullshitted by politicians on issues that affect our wallet. The full name of the book is Hostile Takeover: How Big Money Uses Lies, Myths & Half-Truths to Control Our Country – And What We Can Do About It. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/104-9390345-6128738

Check out this trailer for the film One More Hit: http://www.1morehit.com/trailer.html

GRAYSKULL AND THIRD SIGHT IN PORTLAND:
Friday, November 18, 2005
8p
Grayskul (Rhymesayers)
Third Sight (D-Styles and Jihad)
Nate Mezmer
Macklemore
Trancontinental Hip Hop Collective
At Stamm Hall, Lewis and Clark College
0615 SW Palatine Hill Rd., Portland Oregon
Free for Students, $5 for Non-Students

www.rhymesayers.com
www.greatestworldfamous.com
www.madsevenrecords.com

Thanks,
Summer

JACKA INTERVIEW:
Hip Hop Congress Artist The Jacka has a great interview up with our friends at Soundslam.com. Check out it out here: http://www.soundslam.com/articles/interviews/interviews.php

WEBSITE FEEDBACK:
As you may have already noticed, we have revamped the Hip Hop Congress website. We are excited to hear your feedback, suggestions and compliments. You can send them to Drey, our volunteer webmaster, at drey@hiphopcongress.com

Peace and Love,
Ron Gubitz
Hip Hop Congress

“Hope to the people who be feelin’ down
Smiles to the people who be wearin’ a frown” —Michael Franti