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ASIAN HIP HOP SUMMIT
By Shankel Gladden
The existence of Rap was birthed in the gritty Bronx, New York, streets in the early 70's. Spawning an early revolution of a sub-culture celebrated by black youths; through a medley of art forms starting with djaying, rapping, graffiti, and break dancing. The form of four main arts was established under a name that would put all four entities as one known as "Hip Hop."
Hip Hop was first used as an instrument of therapy to escape the harsh realities of hard ghetto life. Hip Hop played throughout the inner city. Once being reamed as a fad that would go away has overcome barriers that even political figures couldn't break. Spreading from the ghetto of urban America crawling into the white middle class and suburban homes, hip hop was a full-fledged assault of music bringing a new bevy of fans that, this time, were not of the English speaking dialogue.
Hip Hop has now reached all parts of the world affecting people with more hardships than even Americans could relate to hardships such as war, disease, famine, and social equality. And, recently the 4th Annual Asian Hip Hop Summit was a two-day event of line music provided by today's new generation of MC's and DJ's.
The festival began with heavy rotation of performances by acts like Quickflex and Won Hyo. Surprisingly, there was that on other stages where performances of folk and alternative music. "We are trying to show that Hip hop is, and will forever be, a universal language," said a member of Jeet Kune Flow. Sponsors such as Hip Hop radio pioneering station 93.5 KDAY was on hand for support and music personality K-Sly (pictured) hosted most of the first day event's.
Throughout the event, one performance I was particular amazed by was that of female Asian artist Shin-B rocking through her set with ease and good momentum. This 4'11" beauty had a lot to say and demanded the crowd's attention. Afterwards she said, "I speak for a double standard society where it's very tough to compete being a female rapper. And, being Asian, I have a lot to prove and strive to open doors for those like me."
With performances ending and the fans well pleased it looked like another barrier had been broken down - even my own as I witnessed the everlasting effect of music and its windows bringing people of different cultures together in unison.
Kublai Kwon, the event producer says, "We started this project to help Asian youth by handling the transition at being in a new society as Americans - dealing with such aspects of keeping their own identity as well as harboring a new one with the linking rap music. Most don't know it but Asians are a minority, too. They deal with some of the same problems that creators of rap have faced. We are just giving the youth a chance to speak the ideas we know and love now through rap music."
Good acts like these bring the realization of a new world becoming that of understanding of all races through one language - RAP!
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