Hip-hop fans and social activists will have the opportunity to participate in the 6th Annual National Hip Hop Congress Conference July 4-8 at Ohio University.
Hip Hop Congress is a national non-profit organization that promotes social activism through the use of hip-hop culture, local HHC advisor Akil Houston said.
It will be the first national HHC conference ever held in Athens. According to the HHC Web site, the focus of this year's event will be the refinement of national service infrastructure, sustainability and the discussion of important organizational and cultural concepts.
The mission of the HHC is to unite, educate and empower individuals, HHC president Anita Tobin said in an e-mail.
Hip-hop artist and activist KRS-One is expected to attend this year's conference, Houston said. In previous years, artists such as Ghostface Killah, Jurassic 5, Tha Jacka and DJ Crucial have participated in HHC events.
Each night of the conference will feature music and spoken word performances from artists such as Blueprint, The Chicago Community Collective, DJ Roosevelt Treasure Chest, and other acts yet to be named.
The organization adopts the agenda of the local communities and also promotes awareness about issues that affect members of those communities, Houston said. Hip Hop Congress is interested in making a positive change in the community.
Hip Hop Congress currently has more than 50 chapters throughout the country that are involved in education, culture, politics, industry and social justice, according to the HHC Web site.
HHC has been a part of Ohio University and the Athens community since 2003, Houston said. In previous years, the group hosted art shows and weekly emcee battles and has collaborated with other organizations on campus, such as the Black Student Cultural Programming Board, SHADES and Young Black and Talented. The HHC OU chapter also volunteers at local elementary schools, providing break-dance workshops for students, Tobin said.
Workshops during the national conference will include discussions pertaining to healthcare, women in hip-hop, youth violence, and hip-hop and education, among other topics.
Other hip-hop activist groups, such as The Zulu Nation, Hip Hop Caucus and The Temple of Hip Hop, have been invited to attend the HHC 2007 national conference.
One thing that brings people together is the shared appreciation for hip-hop
Houston said.
The registration fee for the national conference is $30 and includes admission to all workshops, performances and panels. This event is open to the public.
[url=http://www.thepost.ohiou.edu/layout/pdf/schedule.pdf]Hip-Hop Congress Schedule[/url] 17
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National Hip Hop Congress to convene in Athens
