Are you sick of seeing hip hop reduced to disposable soundbites and cheap consumerist trappings and hocked to the kids of America for huge capitol gain? Sick of lowest-common-denominator tactics in pop hip hop that uphold the honor of a greedy fuck like Donald Trump, as if he’s something to be? Tired of how big labels continue to promote and vend the dismal blingy side of hip-hop culture (which, in turn, give rise to mooks like Don Imus) instead of socially conscious themes? Sick of how hip hop as a cultural force is constantly shortchanged, given a bad, uh, rap? Ever wonder why some mainstream rappers are never “allowed” to lend voice to issues that deal with his/her community? Such topics and others (including violence, respect, unity, health and literacy) will be tackled this Saturday, June 2 at “Hip Hop: Beyond Entertainment — Town Hall Meeting.”
All concerned citizens are invited to attend this open forum to “raise awareness and listen to all concerns and issues surrounding hip hop.” It’ll be an attempt to offer “long-term solutions to issues that we are facing daily in our communities and as a culture.”
Speakers will include Detroit city councilman Kwame Kenyatta, G-Unit Records producer Nick Speed, Cheree Thomas of Picnap Poetry Series, Anthony Howard of Detroit’s Talented Extravaganza, entertainment attorneys Kim Ward and Gregory Reed, Detroit Rap.com’s Tavares Carney and artists including Finale, Magestik Legend, DJ Razorblade.
Hip Hop: Beyond Entertainment — Town Hall Meeting: 1- 5 p.m. in the Coleman Young Municipal Center Auditorium (2 Woodward Ave. at Michigan, Detroit). It’s on the 13th floor. For more info call Marshell Lumas at (313) 740-8677.
