Hip Hop Festival
EMCEES
"MC" or "Emcee" means "master of ceremonies," a title earned through live performance prowess. Pre-digital era, artists like "Biggie" built reputations on stage charisma, not just recordings. An MC's title reflects superior performance artistry, distinguishing them in engaging audiences with lyrical depth, storytelling, and vocal creativity, beyond mere rapping.
BREAKIN (Bboy/Bgirl)
Breakdancing, also known as breaking, b-boying, or b-girling, is an athletic and improvisational street dance with elements like toprock, drops, downrock, power moves, and freezes. It thrives on competition, especially in "break battles," and suits any strong beat music. In 2024, it debuts in the Olympics.
DJ
A DJ blends and crafts new beats with mixers and turntables, manipulating sounds for unique creations, and communicates with the audience through the records. Skills include scratching, beat juggling, seamless transitions, and engaging listeners. Through cratedigging, DJs curate a diverse music library. Royce Da 5'9" highlighted to DJ Premier, "We both speak our hands in dangerous ways," underscoring how DJs converse with their audience through their musical selections.
GRAFFITI
Graffiti is a visual art form that originated in the late 1960s and early 1970s, especially in urban centers like New York City. It began as a way for marginalized youth—often Black and Latino—to claim space, share messages, and express identity in environments where their voices were often ignored. Originally seen as vandalism, graffiti has evolved into a respected artistic practice around the world.
Today, graffiti is used positively to beautify communities, tell cultural stories, and empower youth through creativity. It’s a form of free expression that blends art, activism, and community engagement.
