Courtesy of Kranzberg Arts Foundation.
Elemental Hip Hop Celebration
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop, and Music at the Intersection and The Walls off Washington are collaborating on a long-lasting celebration of its influence.
Elemental, a year-long series of events and shows, is a new partnership between the two arts organizations centered on the four elements of hip-hop: DJing, MCing (emceeing), breakdancing (B-Boying/B-Girling), and graffiti. The collaboration promises 50 events throughout the year, including "a mix of free and ticketed concerts, workshops, demonstrations, installations and parties."
The first event in the series, Elemental: The Party, takes place on January 28 at Sophie’s Artist Lounge and Gallery (3333 Washington) and features Biko and DJ Charlie Chan, Finsta, a B-Boy/B-Girl demonstration by IDUNNOMARTY, live art by Brklyn, and special guest MCs.
“It’s a representation and celebration of the four elements of hip-hop, so there will be live graffiti artists, DJs, and B-Boys and B-Girls,” says Chris Hansen, executive director of Kranzberg Arts Foundation, which presents Music at the Intersection. “There will be different demonstrations all night long, and it’s a real storytelling and historic retrospective on the decades of hip-hop and the four elements that are the foundation of the culture.”
A DJ spins at Sophie's Artist Lounge. Courtesy of Kranzberg Arts Foundation.
Sophie's Artist Lounge DJ
Throughout the year, Elemental will also feature day-long quarterly “keystone” events at The Walls Off Washington and other venues. The first of those events will be on April 22, and will include artist panels, a film screening, B-Boy and B-Girl performances, live art, and skate demonstrations. The day will end with another interation of Elemental: The Party at Sophie’s Artist Lounge.
“Sophie’s Artist Lounge is a contemporary street art gallery and a place where we have DJs and residents who elevate the art form of turntablism,” Hansen explains. “On a nightly basis at Sophie’s, you see these art forms represented … so it’s part of the mission of Sophie’s every night. We just get an opportunity to go even further in telling that story.”
Hansen says he doesn’t think there has been another year-long event series celebrating the four elements of hip-hop in the way that Elemental will.
“I think the community is ready to celebrate, and the energy around the event is really positive,” he says.
