Lady Flava News

What’s the definition of Hip Hop?

• Hip Hop Culture is a cultural movement that formed during the late 1960s among African American youths residing in the South Bronx in New York City. It is characterized by four distinct elements, all of which represent the different manifestations of the culture: rap music (oral), turntablism or “DJing” (aural), b-boying (physical) and graffiti art(visual). Even while it continues to develop globally in myriad styles, these four foundational elements provide coherence to hip hop culture.

I started this blog out with the definition that I found on google as to what is Hip Hop. Over the years that I have been involved in the Seattle Arts Scene to moving across the globe since 2009, you can tell who lives the essence of the foundation of Hip Hop, to those that have stretched the boundaries of the Culture and more so defining it by a genre that has moved outside the original box of what was once know as a Conscious Art Form of Expression.

Dope Emporium was found in 2005 by Jace ECAj who was the Facilitator of a collective of representatives from a variety of established people in the Seattle Hip Hop scene.  The purpose was to bring the “clicks” of separate Hip Hop Families into a united space and time where Unity of the Art & Culture was celebrated and respected. Hence Dope Emporium was established.  I have heard the stories and read the articles of the beginnings.  Even for me many years after the fact of the birth of Dope Emporium, I have formed my own feeling of it’s greatness.

In 2010, I had the opportunity to be involved with Dope Emporium at Washington Hall.  I loved the process of meeting people from the Hip Hop Community in our city of Seattle, to hearing their thoughts and then formulating the movement to bringing this day into existence.  I started my part out in interviewing artist on my radio show, LIVE at Washington Hall and playing local hip hop on my radio station that day.  The buzz was amazing as the time came for the festival to begin…I staked out my spot up in the balcony, watching it all unfold and it was amazing…Hip Hop and Dope Emporium did unite people that day…An authentic and organic movement filled this large space with a variety of people from all walks of life and age groups, with their own culture that added to the flava of the day.

• This weekend our City’s famed festival, that is known as Northwest Folklife Festival is housing UTAE Presents Seattle’s All Hip Hop Festival, Dope Emporium at The EMP Museum on Sunday, May 24th 3-5pm.  A nice mixture of talents will be hitting the stage with the hopes to entertain you and enlighten your spirit.
• Dope Emporium was created in 2005 to united the variety of Seattle Hip Hop Communities, to provide strength in numbers in supporting the establishment of a Real Hip Hop Scene in the Pacific Northwest.  To Support and Educate the surrounding communities in what Unity looks like and how the power of the words and action can make all the difference for oneself, family, youth and again, community through embracing and respecting this Life Art Form, we call Hip Hop.

Dope Emporium still exists 10 years later and YOU can be apart of this solid Hip Hop Scene and help play a role in turning Seattle’s Hip Hop scene into a viable industry!

• Come out with your family and friends to show your support of Seattle’s All Hip Hop Festival, DOPE EMPORIUM at NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL this weekend.
• Saturday, May 24th 3-5pm at EMP Museum.

Lady Flava

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Flava Coffee House, LLC

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UTAE = Unity Through Arts Exchange

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