Hip Hop Explosion concert to cap off appreciation month with Los Angeles-based artists
Courtesy of TOPSHELF JUNIOR
Today, Dom Kennedy will be performing as part of Cultural Affairs Commission’s Hip Hop Explosion concert along with Blu & Exile, Pac Div and Schoolboy Q.
Today, 8 p.m. (wristband distribution begins at 5 p.m. in Bruin Plaza)
Ackerman Grand Ballroom, FREE
By Jenna Maffucci
Feb. 29, 2012 12:13 a.m.
courtesy of KATHRYNA HANCOCK
Los Angeles native and hip-hop producer Exile will be performing at today’s concert.
Ten minutes was all it took for the Cultural Affairs Commission’s website to crash once reservation sign-ups became available for its annual Hip Hop Explosion concert. As “refresh” buttons were abused to reserve admission to the show and Hip Hop Congress staff connected frantically to fix the glitch, the high level of anticipation for the event became clear.
Tonight, Hip Hop Congress, a subdivision of Undergraduate Students Association Council’s Cultural Affairs Commission, will host the eighth annual Hip Hop Explosion concert.
The event will wrap up Hip Hop Appreciation Month and will feature Los Angeles-based artists Blu & Exile, Pac Div, Schoolboy Q and Dom Kennedy.
Hip Hop Appreciation Month aims to integrate hip-hop on campus as more than just a mainstream concept but, rather, as a way of life that represents creativity, social voice and imaginative art. The month also overlaps with Black History Month because of hip-hop’s origin in African American communities.
“There are many people who confuse rap and hip-hop; hip-hop is a lifestyle which was brought about by the ’70s and even earlier. It’s had a huge influence in this country, all the way up to the White House and our government,” said Isaiah Lauwerys, a third-year political science student. “We want to celebrate how it has transcended other cultures.”
This year, the celebratory month has included events such as breakLA, a breakdancing competition, the annual Hip Hop Congress fashion show and a film screening of “Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest.”
Dana Diaz, a fourth-year anthropology student and co-director of Hip Hop Explosion, said the concert serves a larger purpose than just entertainment.
“We want to highlight the culture of hip-hop. The mainstream perception doesn’t do it justice. We want to expose the components that the school may not know about. Other than music, (there are) avenues like dancing, graffiti and DJing,” Diaz said.
According to Diaz, this closing event tends to be the most popular event of all the Hip Hop Appreciation Month events because of the concentration of talented performers in one night.
Each year’s concert takes a different direction, some showcasing well-known names and others presenting artists with a more up-and-coming feel. Past artists have included Outkast, Busta Rhymes, E-40 and, as of last year, J. Cole, according to third-year communications student and co-director of the event, Evangeline Ignacio.
“We don’t really have a set guideline as far as picking an artist goes. We like to feel out the year of music and sometimes we go for a more new-school feel, and other times we take an old-school route,” Ignacio said. “This year, all the performers are L.A.-based. We want to show hip-hop in the context of the west coast with these on-the-verge artists.”
All four performers are recognized for their lyrical talent and dedication to the true definition of hip-hop music. Lauwerys also said that the artists have coinciding fan bases.
“When I listen to them, they’re all in the same playlist. Pac Div and Schoolboy Q bring more of the aggressive hip-hop, while Blu and Dom Kennedy bring out the more mellow, vibing music. They’re all representing Los Angeles very well; they’re evolving this new-school sound and that’s going to spread,” Lauwerys said.
One of the performing acts, Blu & Exile, will open the show and has garnered much interest throughout the UCLA population. Rapper Blu gained fame and respect in hip-hop circles in 2007 after the release of his album produced by Exile, “Below the Heavens,” which focused on social, political and relationship issues. Recently, Blu released a mixtape titled “UCLA.”
According to Lauwerys, Hip Hop Explosion is a great way to begin a lifelong interest in hip-hop.
“We’re looking to spark an interest. I think it’s important that we try to expose every different type of facet of hip-hop to educate the campus, and Hip Hop Explosion is just one of them,” Lauwerys said. “It’s a lifelong learning experience if you really want to explore the topic of hip-hop.”
