Hip Hop 101 hosts 'Da Partie'

Daniel Morgan Staff Writer

Solid hip hop music, spoken word, and open mic performances filled the Villard room last Saturday night. The overarching theme of the event was the importance of voice and message expressed through the many forms of hip hop. Broad classifications of hip-hop and its rich culture found a great outlet and large audience from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. The new club Hip Hop 101 organized this popular event. Members of the community, hundreds of students, and even a couple parents found their way to the dark, balloon-filled Villard Room.

The show wasn't just turn tables and DJs; rap and rhyme, spoken word, and open mic spots highlighted the early hours of the event. It was loosely structured; the performances flowed from one to the other. A stomp-type drumming and tap production with three drummers, two tap dancers, and one singer showcased one of the many forms of hip-hop.

The political aspects of this event were not as prominent as some had thought. Though the flyers labeled it as Hip Hop 101's Da Partie /Bush Bash, it took on a calmer tone with the open mic portion of the event. Though the messages of speakers were essentially left-leaning, it never erupted into a so-called “Bush Bash.”The speakers and DJs promoted voice and activism—in the most general terms—and reminded students (and the parents who came) to register for the November elections.

At 11p.m. with the turntables powered up and the evening crowds arrived, the only vestige of the earlier political motifs was a cycling projector set up by Democracy Matters with political quotes, cartoons, and stats. The projector kept humming away while the hip-hop became more intense and people flowed in.

The closing of the mug in support of this event, contributions from the Poughkeepsie community with additional resources and cooperation from the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, Vassar Democrats, the Black Student Union, and Poder Latino truly made this event a product of the entire Vassar community.

TC Weaver, one of the founding members of Hip hop 101, said that, "hip-hop is a unifying device that brings people together to respect its dynamic and broad cultural influence. It's not just a form of music—it's a culture and way of life." For now, the Hip hop 101 club looks forward to Hip hop month in November. Stay tuned.