The intimate affair at Inn on the Green, Ladbroke Grove, was a pleasing, heart-warming success. Organised and run by young volunteers and funded by the Octavia foundation. The evening sought to explore the meaning of hip hop throughout the ages and the continued negative portrayals within it today.
Even with serious matters to debate, the evening was an enjoyable array of established knowledge from speakers and fresh opinions. I spoke to Sukant Chandan, head organiser, he explained:
"Hip Hop History is taking place one week before the Notting Hill Carnival, whose founder - Claudia Jones - is a hero to many of the young people we work with. Claudia Jones said ‘a people’s art is the genesis to their freedom’, and that perhaps encapsulates this event too.
“We at the Octavia Foundation through our youth-led film projects such as Grove Roots and Hidden Herstories are carrying on this principle in engaging critically in our art and culture to better our young people and our communities. Today's Hip Hop History is a successful example of this."
“Even though the mainstream media promotes these images which degrade women they still blame the community and culture. But this is not our culture; we are led to believe it is. It’s not our movement; it’s a corporate movement."
The evening kicked off with a fascinating presentation on the history of hip hop in London by Kevin Davis. A history all too well brushed over and overshadowed by American hip hop culture. Davis highlights the diversity of the hip hop audience at the very beginning.
Up next the young speaker Rae Evelyn introduced a film documentary named ‘Hip Hop beyond beats and Rhymes’. The film opened the floor to issues surrounding homophobia, masculinity and sexism in hip hop. The short documentary film complemented the panel that were next on the agenda. The guest speakers consisted of MCs and activists Lowkey and Akala; along with Carlos Martinez, hip hop intellectual; and Isis Amalak, community activist and organiser.
The panel did well to unveil the truths behind hip hop’s history and the reality it is in today. The consensus was to support and highlight positive reinforcements in hip hop for women, men and the community as whole; far away from the corporate industries who sell hip hop as a profitable package.
"The majority of hip hop leaves women to be portrayed as subservient to men… definitions of females and examples of females in position other than in service to men. No genuine examples of females being in power."
Isis Amalak extended her message to emphasise: “As young people you need to be challenging the content, as women challenging the industry…we actually need more female rappers out there.”
Lowkey pointed towards corruption within hip hop: ”Hip hop in its worst existence is cultural imperialism, yet at its best it’s a resistance.”
After the question and answer round, the real fun begun. The abundance of talent under one roof was immense. Live PAs from spoken word artists such as Kate Tempest, street dancers, singers, and local talent such as ‘The brotherhood movement’. MCs performances included LowKey and Akala. Catching up with them both I delved further in on their opinions about sexism in hip hop music, and here’s what they had to say...
Lowkey: ”The majority of hip hop leaves women to be portrayed as subservient to men… definitions of females and examples of females in position other than in service to men. No genuine examples of females being in power. I think there’s a long way to go in terms of males and females viewing each other as equals… and women feeling empowered by hip hop… I think it’s a must.”
Akala: “Even though the mainstream media promotes these images which degrade women they still blame the community and culture. But this is not our culture; we are led to believe it is. It’s not our movement; it’s a corporate movement.”
Such a night is easily underestimated but never forgotten. An important message resounds for all those who attended on the night - it’s time to take hip hop back not only as a musical genre but as a culture. Let’s not let anyone ‘produce’ it for us, but let us produce, recreate and reinvent hip hop as a positive way of life for everyone.
Many thanks to all the supporting artists and organisers for an eye-opening push in the right direction.
Words: Fadah Jassem
Photos: Henna Malik (www.hennam.com [1])
Links:
[1] http://www.hennam.com