Hip Hop Theater Festival

It's already mid-July, and so much is happening around the DC metro area. I guess it's a given, when some parts of the year, it's blistering cold. Now this week, if you haven't heard the buzz from students, thespians, or hip hop enthusiasts, the Hip Hop Theater Festival (HHTF) is in town.

HHTF (founded in 2000) creates a more active presence of hip hop and theater. HHTF creates the awareness that hip hop isn't what Fox media presents as the "bling" and "thug life", but allowing artists such as lyricists, thespians, producers, and spoken word artists to present the relevant social issues to the public. And for those who don't know, hip hop has elements of the emcee, the dj, the taggers and the b-boy/b-girl dancers; it is not a thug/ho life affair.

HHTF in DC started this past Monday, July 6th, with the AM Radio Live Art and Performance and will continue to bring panel discussions, other theatrical performances, and dance parties until Saturday, July 11th. I had the great opportunity to volunteer at the festival this year and getting a chance to see Voices Remix: A People's History of the United States this past Tuesday was amazing. Granted I got to see the last 15 minutes of the show, but it still moved me regardless. I've always appreciated spoken word thanks to people like Bao Phi, Doug Kearney, Kelly Tsai and my peers at UF (especially those at EXHALE).

I love these art shows and festivals especially when the performances are available and free to the public at any point of the day and week. This is a great accessibility and opportunity to those who would otherwise believe they had no time and/or money. I loved the fact that HHTF had Zomo the Rabbit: A Hip-Hop Creation Myth at the THEARC, one of the few performances specifically geared towards the younger audience. Seeing all the kids' faces after watching the show was so cute. Not only was it cute, but knowing they had this great opportunity filled up my warm fuzzy heart. Thank you to all HHTF coordinators, staff, performers, sponsors, and the DC Arts Commission for bringing HHTF to DC. Oh and even though they may not know it, it was great meeting Regie, Dave, William, Clarence, Alorie, Clyde, Kamilah, Tommy, Ms. Shirley, and Morgan and everyone else!

Today is the last day of the Hip Hop Theater Festival, so check out Step into a World at Benning Park Recreation Center at 12pm and try to get into the "SOLD OUT" closing night performance, Don't Hit Mama, at Dance Place at 9pm. For more details about the events today, visit http://www.hhtf.org/.