Hip Hop . . . What is it?

Hip hop is composed of four elements; graffiti, DJ(disc jockey)/turntablism, b-boy and MC. Graffiti became popular in the 1970's to 1980's, and a lot of its history can be seen in New York City, on large brick walls and subway stations such as the 149th street Grand Concourse station in the Bronx. This station has a bench called the Writer's Bench. The bench, located at the back of the uptown platform, is where writers from all over the city came to meet, make plans, sign black books and settle disputes. The main activity was benching or watching art on the passing trains. The writers would admire and criticize the latest paintings.

DJing is now a basic in music. A DJ is used in a lot of concerts and parties regardless of the genre. On the other hand, a DJ and turntablist are two different things. This is when a DJ takes two turntables, a mixer and usually a musical instrumental and uses the crossfader, volume control, different scratching and cutting techniques to create rhythms and melodies. Very few DJ's do it effectively. It has become as much an art form as rapping itself. It requires quick hands and timing to recreate beats. Many consider turntables as instruments when utilized to make beats.

An MC, often spelled emcee, is more than just a rapper. An emcee focuses not on only a simple flow but also the lyrics integrated with complex rhyme scheme, metaphors, similes and so on.

Talib Kweli and Hi Tek, hip-hop performers, will be mixing next week on Saturday March 31, 2001 in the Campus Center at 8 p.m. To introduce the performers, the Black Student Union will have the WPI Step Team composed of Avery Williams, Valerie Ambroise, Letasha Souffrant and Romiya Glover open. Also performing is the Ground FX Crew. This breaking crew from Providence, Rhode Island area is made up of nine people. Breaking is a dance and artform that many at WPI perhaps are not exposed to and this is your opportunity to see and do something different from the typical "there is nothing to do in Worcester". Last, but not least, Akrobatik, an underground rapper from Boston who preformed with Talib before the Lyricists Lounge Tour of last year. Tickets are on sell now and will be available in the Social Committee office starting Monday, March 19.