DJ Stylus in the Kennedy Center One Mic Hip-Hop Festival

One Mic: Hip-Hop Culture Worldwide

March 25 to April 13, 2014
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in collaboration with Hi-ARTS, producers of the Hip-Hop Theater Festival, presents One Mic: Hip-Hop Culture Worldwide, a festival celebrating this uniquely American art form. The festival highlights MCing, DJing, b-boying, and graffiti writing, the original four elements of hip-hop culture, alongside contemporary interdisciplinary work born of hip-hop aesthetics. Ticketed and free performances and exhibitions explore the breadth and depth of hip-hop today.

Hip-Hop in the Pocket

This show celebrates the artistic kinship and creative exchange between two musical “play-cousins”: go-go and hip-hop. Rhome “DJ Stylus” Anderson and Pure Perfection Band and Show engage in a call-and-response that explores how both forms have influenced each other and contemporary American music over the past several decades. This musical storytelling session is rounded out by host/singer Nea Posey and videographer Tewodross Melchishua and is produced by Nzinga Tull.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014, 6pm
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
Free

In the Producer’s Studio with the Low Budget Crew / Just Beats Listening Lounge

For over ten years The Low Budget Crew (which consists of a total of fifteen members) has represented DMV hip hop, collectively and individually. With production from members like Kaimbr, SlimKat and yU and DJ Roddy Rod, the crew known for capturing that “PG County sound” has become a household name in several independent hip hop scenes around the world. During this special event, members of Low Budget will discuss their various paths and offer up a live demonstration of their production process.

Moderator: Rhome Anderson aka DJ Stylus
Panelists: DJ Roddy Rod, Kaimbr, yU and SlimKat

Thursday, Apr. 3, 2014, 7:30 PM
Kennedy Center Terrace Gallery
Free event, and tickets are required

Panel Discussion: The State of the U: The Effects of Gentrification on DC Hip-Hop

In the late 1990’s to early 2000’s the famed U Street, NW corridor was bustling with artistry of all kinds. There were venues like Mango’s Cafe, Bohemian Caverns, State of the Union and Bar Nun which served as community spaces for artists and thinkers alike. Today U Street, NW resembles many of the gentrified areas of DC and the once progressive and Black arts movements have been slowly pushed out over the years, save for one or two venues. This panel will discuss the trickle down effects of gentrification on DC hip hop specifically and the independent artist movement in general. What happens to culture when it is priced out? How do artists regroup when their meeting and performing spaces are taken or lost? What is the cultural price of gentrification?

Moderator: Jessica Solomon
Panelists: Raquel Brown, Head-Roc, Brent ‘Munch’ Joseph, Asheru, DJ Stylus, Toni Blackman, Marc Powers, Omrao Brown, Victoria Murray

Wednesday, April 9, 2014, 8pm
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
Free