Hip-Hop is more than a music genre – it’s a culture. That culture which began in the Bronx during the late 1970s – and was once thought to be just a passing phase represented by a microphone and a gold rope necklace – has now blossomed to represent the biggest music genre in the United States in 2017.
According to Nielsen Music’s 2017 year-end report, eight of the Top 10 selling albums came from the genre of hip-hop or hip-hop infused R&B. This is the first time in the nearly 50 year history of the culture – that hip-hop has owned the number one spot.
Describing hip-hop as a culture requires understanding that the genre embodies more than just rap music. It’s a way of life. It’s the way fans dress, talk, walk, dance and their attitudes. To sum it up in modern terminology – It’s their SWAG!
However; although the type of SWAG may change from generation to generation – hip-hop will always be rooted in its Founding 4 Elements: Djing, B-Boying (MCing), Break Dancing and Graffiti Art. Hip-Hop legends & pioneers Afrika Bambaataa and Zulu Nation are credited with being the first to speak on these Founding 4 Elements.
In an effort to commemorate the founding 4 elements of hip-hop, Atlanta natives Dubelyoo and Jabari Graham created the concept of Arts-Beats + Lyrics out of their deep love and admiration of modern art and the hip-hop culture.
“THE EVENT IS A TRAVELING URBAN ART EXHIBITION THAT FEATURES HIP-HOP ART- URBAN ART – GRAFFITI – STREET ART MURALS AND MIXES IT WITH LIVE PERFORMANCES AND DJS.” – DUBELYOO (ARTIST & CURATOR OF ARTS-BEATS & LYRICS)
Dubelyoo and Graham decided to create the artistic musical collaboration when Graham was abruptly laid-off from his marketing position with a circus group. Instead of wallowing in misery – the pair got together and decided that they both were in search of new careers.
Graham formed a collaboration comprised of a group of local artists and Djs from the Atlanta area and started putting on shows. Dubelyoo quickly realized the growth potential and gave the venture a boost by booking future shows at local museums.
Eleven years later – Art-Beats + Lyrics has expanded and is currently touring across the country, hosting shows that feature established urban artists as well as major label rappers & Djs.
Art, Beats + Lyrics hosted its first event in Louisville in 2016, during the Kentucky Derby weekend. With hundreds of thousands of people visiting the Louisville area for the Kentucky Derby festivals, there are always plenty of celebrity and non-celebrity parties.
However, Art, Beats + Lyrics (sponsored by Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey) established itself as one of the premier Derby weekend parties during its first hosting in Louisville. One of the attracting amenities is that the event is totally free and partygoers are supplied with one free drink ticket to purchase one the Jack Daniel’s Honey spirits products, available at the many bars scattered throughout the venue.
The first two years of AB+L Louisville, were held at the Ice House and featured rappers Twista and Mannie Fresh. However, the event became so large that it quickly outgrew the venue. Seeking larger space, Art, Beats + Lyrics held its third Derby Weekend event at Louisville’s largest concert arena – the KFC YUM! Center.
The event began at 7pm and partygoers formed a long line outside the arena as early as 5pm. The larger venue appeared to allow the artwork displays to be easier to access than previous years and also provided more walking space.
A guest DJ spinned hip-hop & R&B hits from the 80s, 90s & 2000s, while attendees sipped liquor, danced and browsed the art exhibits.
The featured musical artist this year was Grammy nominated hip-hop artist Rapsody, who is revered to the culture as a “Traditional” hip-hop artist, who remains grounded within the Founding 4 Elements of hip-hop.
Brad Harrison is a journalist/motivational speaker/entrepreneur and on-air personality. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications with cum laude honors from the University of Louisville. In October 2015, he started UrbanMaxx Magazine to provide positive role models for Urban residents that reside in at-risk-communities and lack positive leadership in their lives.
For booking or advertising – contact Brad Harrison at bradharrison@urbanmaxx.com