socialize, get down

let your soul lead the way

FEST FORWARD: HIP-HOP UNBOUND will be happening APRIL 3—15 at NYU’s Jack H. Skirball Center whose explicit mission is to actively engage audiences through live performance. Although their target audience is age 18—30 some of you old-timers might dig it as well. Here are a few events that stood out for me but you can find complete info here.

The Great Hip-Hop Swindle: Thursday, April 6 at 7:00 P.M.
A segment of a documentary-in-progress, Apache Line: From Gangs to Hip-Hop by Popmaster Fabel which documents the foundations of b-boying, popping and rocking as it emerged from the gang era of the mid-1970s. There will be a performance in which dance legends meet “new jacks,” and will close with a panel/Q & A.
The Coup: Saturday, April 15 at 10:00 P.M.
The Coup's new album, Pick A Bigger Weapon continues the exploration of the collisions between economics and everyday life, the political and the personal.
The Making of “Planet Rock”, Monday, April 3 at 7:00 P.M.
The original creative team behind the song reflect on the making of the record. Speakers include Afrika Bambaataa Arthur Baker, Fab Five Freddy, Monica Lynch, John Robie, Tom Silverman and special guests. Moderated by David Toop.
The Future of Hip-Hop, Saturday, April 8 at 7:00P.M.
Ta-Nehisi Coates (Time, Village Voice), Jaylah Burrell (Pop Matters), Richard Goldstein (former Voice editor), Margo Jefferson (Pulitzer Prize-winner, New York Times), Bakari Kitwana (Why White Kids Love Hip-Hop), Sacha Jenkins (Ego Trip co-founder), Cristina Veran (One World, Spin) and Oliver Wang (Classic Material, Vibe) will each have five minutes to offer three wishes for the next three years of hip-hop.

And, although I won’t be able to go to it, the premise for that last one is pretty enticing…

Three Wishes for the next three years of hip-hop?

3. More regular-folk rap… the promise that Joe Budden had/has and the world that Kanye left should allow for it… but the absence of backpack whine is a necessity.
2. More emotion in rap… I love the cold-hearted stuff but Ghostface, Scarface and Beanie (and maybe some others…?) show the possibilities for real emotions to coexist with ‘The Real’ and that the shedding of tears can happen for other things besides ‘dead homies.’
1. Another original local sound rises to global significance… pretty much inevitable but I’ll be happy none the less.

Anybody else?