Tag: Tupac Shakur

Hip-Hop Hooray — New U-M Exhibit Looks Back at 50 Years of the Music and Culture

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Dani Williams stands next to the hip-hop divas section of U-M’s “Hip Hop @ 50” exhibit at Haven Hall’s GalleryDAAS. Photo – Lori Stratton.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on the Ann Arbor District Library’s Pulp blog.

I remember the moment I fell in love with hip-hop.

It was 1985, and my older brother had rented VHS copies of the films Breakin’ and Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo from our local video store.

Seeing the breakdancing prowess of Kelly, Ozone, and Turbo in the films instantly captured my attention and spurred nine-year-old me to experiment with some moves of my own.

While I couldn’t quite emulate the popping, up-rocking, down-rocking, or power moves of the films’ heroes, I embraced a love of dancing and developed my own quirky style over the years.

As I grew up, I danced to the music of Run-D.M.C., Beastie Boys, Salt-N-Pepa, LL Cool J, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, Young MC, MC Hammer, and others.

By high school, I had started learning about three of the five elements of hip-hop—rapping, DJing, and breakdancing—and would encounter the other two—graffiti and historical knowledge—as an adult.

Today, these five elements provide the foundation for a hip-hop history exhibit curated by the University of Michigan’s Department of Afroamerican and African Studies and on display at Haven Hall’s GalleryDAAS through September 4.

Known as Hip Hop @ 50: Defs, Dates, Divas, Detroit & Dilla, the exhibit celebrates the 50th anniversary of the culture and explores its evolution across music, society, fashion, language, entertainment, and politics.

Continue reading “Hip-Hop Hooray — New U-M Exhibit Looks Back at 50 Years of the Music and Culture” →

Sound Choices — Ypsilanti, Mich. Native, Rap Artist Hosts The Poppin’ College Tour Friday at U-M for High School Students

Amir “Lady Heat” Young, center, hosts The Poppin’ College Tour at the University of Michigan.

 

For Amir “Lady Heat” Young, each day begins with a series of small decisions.

Those small decisions result in larger choices that ultimately shape the future.

“When you wake up, you have a choice. When you do your homework, you have a choice. When you don’t, those things add up,” she said. “At the end of the day, I try to illustrate that your everyday choices take you down a path that leads either closer to or further from your dreams.”

Lady Heat is ready to ask that question to 68 Ypsilanti, Mich. high school students during the third installment of The Poppin’ College Tour at the University of Michigan’s East Hall on Friday.

Launched by Lady Heat in 2014, The Poppin’ College Tour is an educational program designed to encourage disadvantaged and at-risk youth ages 13-19 to attend college and make positive life choices.

Continue reading “Sound Choices — Ypsilanti, Mich. Native, Rap Artist Hosts The Poppin’ College Tour Friday at U-M for High School Students” →