Hip-Hop Artists Share the Mic on March 17
Linqua Franqa, Sacramento Knoxx, Rennie泭Harris, The ReMINDers, and Michael Jeffries
On Wednesday, March 17 at 6 pm online, national Hip-Hop artists泭Sacramento Knoxx, The ReMINDers, Linqua Franqa, and Rennie Harris, along with moderator Michael Jeffries (Wellesley College) will present,泭Sounding Politics, A Roundtable.
The presentation is part of泭Hip-Hop in Times of Pandemic and Protest, a month-long series of events hosted by the泭American Music Research Center泭and the泭Laboratory for Race & Popular Culture (RAP Lab),泭in collaboration with the泭Department of Theatre and Dance, the泭Center for Native American and Indigenous Studies, and the泭Latin American Studies Center.泭泭The series泭explores泭the impacts, challenges, and possibilities of the current moment in Hip-Hop泭and is generously supported by a grant from the泭Roser Visiting Artists Program. 泭Wednesday's event will focos on Hip-Hop and politics.
Our existence in America since slavery has been based on politics and war, said泭, founder of Puremovement American Street Dance Theater and whose泭award-winning Rome and Jewels remains the longest touring Hip-Hop dance theater work in American history. 泭I 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)泭have destroyed, conquered, appropriated, and consumed every ethnicity and culture on the planet. 泭When sharing his views on how Hip-Hop influences泭society, he shared that泭"at its core it promotes individuality, choice and voice."
Sacramento Knoxx
啦堯梗泭New Yorker泭calls Harris the most respectedand, to my knowledge, the most brilliant Hip-hop choreographer in America.泭泭And the泭London Times泭refers to him as The Basquiat of the US. He has literally embodied the history of hip-hop dance.泭泭
Hip-hop is merely an extension泭of African American culture-of which is traditional-African at its base, Harris泭continued and泭expressed that one of the elements of Hip-Hop culture is泭knowledge.泭泭What this means is knowledge of everything.泭 By not having a clear directive it is saying we must be aware of every and all things.泭 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.泭
泭an Ojibwe and Chicano rapper, music producer, and interdisciplinary artist rooted in southwest Detroit who will also participate in the March 17th泭presentation said, Street 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.
The ReMINDers
Hip-Hop is about the struggle against colonialism, knowledge, streets codes, deep narratives and reflections, celebration, peace, love, and unity.泭泭It's the contemporary life force of the culture right now, Knoxx continued.泭泭Its the lifestyle we all泭live in the hood.泭泭The rapping is for those elevating voices and sharing narratives inside that lifestyle.泭
Big Samir of泭泭declared that Hip-Hop was 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.泭泭
The ReMINDers is a touring duo that also includes Queens-born, Aja Black.泭泭Together they blend soulful sounds and roots music with inspirational messages. 泭Samir shared that some of the music that has influenced his work comes from泭Bob Marley, Public Enemy, Dead Prez, Black Star, and Fugees.泭
Also joining Wednesday's rountable泭is (Mariah Parker), a Hip-Hop artist in Athens, GA whose bringing together of her artistic career with a political one has泭.泭 At the age of 26 she was sworn in泭as an Athens-Clarke County Commissioner泭with her hand on a copy of泭The Autobiography of Malcolm X, instead of the Bible.泭泭The discussion will be moderated by Professor of Ethics and American Studies泭and Dean of Academic Affairs at Wellesley College,泭泭whose work泭explores racism, sexism, exploitation, and the ways marginalized people create meaning and build identities. 泭Jeffries is泭the author of several泭books, including泭.