Hip-Hop Artists Share the Mic on March 17
Linqua Franqa, Sacramento Knoxx, Rennie听Harris, The ReMINDers, and Michael Jeffries
On Wednesday, March 17 at 6 pm online, national Hip-Hop artists听Sacramento Knoxx, The ReMINDers, Linqua Franqa, and Rennie Harris, along with moderator Michael Jeffries (Wellesley College) will present,听鈥淪ounding Politics,鈥 A Roundtable.
The presentation is part of听Hip-Hop in Times of Pandemic and Protest, a month-long series of events hosted by the听American Music Research Center听and the听Laboratory for Race & Popular Culture (RAP Lab),听in collaboration with the听Department of Theatre and Dance, the听Center for Native American and Indigenous Studies, and the听Latin American Studies Center.听听The series听explores听the impacts, challenges, and possibilities of the current moment in Hip-Hop听and is generously supported by a grant from the听Roser Visiting Artists Program. 听Wednesday's event will focos on Hip-Hop and politics.
鈥淥ur existence in America since slavery has been based on politics and war,鈥 said听, founder of Puremovement American Street Dance Theater and whose听award-winning 鈥淩ome and Jewels鈥 remains the longest touring Hip-Hop dance theater work in American history. 听鈥淚 told a friend of mine; if history tells us anything it maps out in great detail how white people (those who refer to themselves as white)听have destroyed, conquered, appropriated, and consumed every ethnicity and culture on the planet.鈥 听When sharing his views on how Hip-Hop influences听society, he shared that听"at its core it promotes individuality, choice and voice."
Sacramento Knoxx
罢丑别听New Yorker听calls Harris 鈥渢he most respected鈥攁nd, to my knowledge, the most brilliant Hip-hop choreographer in America.鈥澨鼳nd the听London Times听refers to him as 鈥淭he Basquiat of the US. He has literally embodied the history of hip-hop dance.鈥澨
鈥淗ip-hop is merely an extension听of African American culture-of which is traditional-African at its base,鈥 Harris听continued and听expressed that one of the elements of Hip-Hop culture is听knowledge.听听鈥淲hat this means is knowledge of everything.听 By not having a clear directive it is saying we must be aware of every and all things.听 To seek knowledge out using every means necessary. If this is the case then this means we have crossed the Hip-hop threshold, this is beyond Hip-hop this is about Humanity.鈥澨
听an Ojibwe and Chicano rapper, music producer, and interdisciplinary artist rooted in southwest Detroit who will also participate in the March 17th听presentation said, 鈥淪treet gangs are political, as well as neighborhoods, and families. And these were the foundations of the culture of the people and the beautiful ghetto. Our survival as well as our excellence contributes to the legacy in hop-hop.鈥
The ReMINDers
Hip-Hop is about 鈥渢he struggle against colonialism, knowledge, streets codes, deep narratives and reflections, celebration, peace, love, and unity.听听It's the contemporary life force of the culture right now,鈥 Knoxx continued.听听It鈥檚 鈥渢he lifestyle we all听live in the hood.听听The rapping is for those elevating voices and sharing narratives inside that lifestyle.鈥澨
Big Samir of听听declared that Hip-Hop 鈥渨as a response to what was taking place in those environments, an artistic documentation of the situation and realities people were living in the Bronx and then across the world.鈥澨
The ReMINDers is a touring duo that also includes Queens-born, Aja Black.听听Together they blend soulful sounds and roots music with inspirational messages. 听Samir shared that some of the music that has influenced his work comes from听Bob Marley, Public Enemy, Dead Prez, Black Star, and Fugees.听
Also joining Wednesday's rountable听is 鈥 (Mariah Parker), a Hip-Hop artist in Athens, GA whose bringing together of her artistic career with a political one has听.听 At the age of 26 she was sworn in听as an Athens-Clarke County Commissioner听with her hand on a copy of听The Autobiography of Malcolm X, instead of the Bible.听听The discussion will be moderated by Professor of Ethics and American Studies听and Dean of Academic Affairs at Wellesley College,听听whose work听explores racism, sexism, exploitation, and the ways marginalized people create meaning and build identities. 听Jeffries is听the author of several听books, including听.