“Isn’t Hip Hop a musical style?”

It is. I used to think that’s ALL it was. A style of music.

Through producing the Winter Block Party and working closely with Kevin Coval, Daniel Ash, Jesse Menendez, Alice Kim, and a host of collaborators over the past five years, I have witnessed that Hip Hop is far more than “just” a style of music. It is a political posture, it’s an artistic medium, it’s a perspective of the world, it’s an attitude. It is also a style of dress, of dancing, of celebrating life, of communicating.

You don’t need to produce a Block Party for Hip Hop to experience what I have - you can just come to the Metro this Saturday and soak it in. Ask questions. Listen and let it seep into your skin.

If you’ve never witnessed B-Boys and B-Girls (the shorthand comes from either “Breakdancing” or “Beat” depending on who you ask), then you haven’t seen one of the most amazing displays of physical prowess, grace and absolute “in yer face” athletic dancing anywhere by anyone. We will have dancing, hosted by some of the true veterans of the art form curating and judging, all day long on the Main Stage. An Open Jam early on, a sign up to compete for $250.00 and prizes, a Quarter-Finals until 4PM. To see the Semi-Finals and Final Battle, you need to come to the evening concert.

Also, I’m super pleased to include one of the most egalitarian and entertaining storytelling nights in Chicago, Grown Folk Stories, to take the Main Stage at 4:30PM. Hosted by the elegant and brash Cara Brigandi, this is an Open Mic storytelling opportunity - five minutes per story, anything goes. You put your name in the hat, Cara calls you up and you share your experiences with the crowd.

AND there will be music. All day with Jesse De La Pena and the Vocalo DJ Collective and in the evening with a killer line-up of acts.

Don’t miss it.