Understanding Hip Hop as An Art Expression

January 2010

Sacramento, CA.

On December 12, 2009, EGG (Eternal Growth Group) hosted: "Hip Hop: An Art Expression" event at Luther Burbank High School, providing workshops educating the community about Hip Hop culture. The event included six different Hip Hop education classes, and one class for parents who have kids involved in Hip Hop.

Hip Hop culture is known but not limited to MC, DJ, Break dancing (aka Breaking), and graffiti. Hip Hop music originated in the 1970’s in Bronx, New York among African Americans, when DJ’s started playing popular music like funk and soul during block parties, and by the early 1980’s it spread to every corner of the globe. It became the source for deprived youths to voice their views on personal, political, and social issues through the art of hip hop. As it made its way to the world wide audience, Hip Hop came to be represented as the empowerment of the deprived and as the American dream. Break dancing also originated from these block parties as B-Boys and B-Girls started street dancing very complex and intricate moves.

Tou Saiko Lee, a rapper in Delicious Venom and PosNoSys, presented a class on using Hip Hop to express the difficulties of social issues like racism, gang violence, drugs, and abuse. Other workshops focus on topics like knowing metaphors, alliteration, music coordinating, and the history of Hip Hop.

Even though it was raining hard, there were over 60 youths of all ages, and ethnicity who came to attend the event.

A friendly 3 vs. 3 B-Boy competition ended the event, showcasing the performers talents as break dancers. Many flips, spins, and turns were presented before the judges chose the winners.