waterproof
New member
Hip Hop Conventions-They're Going Global
by Davey D.
Once upon a time it seemed like all the worthwhile Hip Hop Conventions took place only in New York City. I'm thinking back to the days late 80s during the legendary New Music Seminar where damn near everyone and their grandma would come to Hip Hop's birthplace and attempt to break through. As Hip Hop evolved conventions began popping up in other cities where Hip Hop was flourishing. First it was Los Angeles then other spots like San Francisco, New Orleans, Miami and Atlanta played host. Over the years I've been to all sorts of conventions like Urban Network, Impact, Rap Sheet, Jack The Rapper and The Gavin Convention to name a select few. In all these seminars I always noticed scores of people from other countries spending tons of money and taking time to come over here attempting to breakthrough. I also noticed a similar 'elitist' and sometimes disdainful attitude toward our foreign visitors as it was back in the days for non New York Hip Hop artist visiting the Big Apple. Folks really didn't time out to acknowledge and note that there are indeed thriving Hip Hop scenes outside of the US. We got caught up in thinking that life begins and ends at our shores.
I recall going to Seminars back in the '80s and folks from The Big Apple just outright refusing to except the fact that Hip Hop existed beyond the 5 boroughs. Even folks from nearby Jersey or Philly had a rough time finding acceptance. The prevailing thought was if it wasn't from New York it wasn't real. If it wasn't from New York it wasn't even Hip Hop. Every so often some one would come along and exude some skillz that would shatter the myth of NY being the only place for Hip Hop. In those days it was usually the deejays who made strides. Most notable was in 1987 DJ Joe Cooley of Los Angeles going up against DJ Cash Money of Philadelphia in what is still a legendary Battle for Hip Hop World Supremacy. It was one of the first times two finalist competed in either the emcee or dj battles who weren't from New York. It wasn't until some of these seminar took the show on the road and folks got to see Hip Hop in other cities. The Gavin Conventions held in SF during the early 90s help refocus and redefine the boundaries. That was later followed by Atlanta, New Orleans and other spots.. But again aside from a few cats here and there like DJ Honda..folks were not really giving acknowledgement to the scenes outside the states......
by Davey D.
Once upon a time it seemed like all the worthwhile Hip Hop Conventions took place only in New York City. I'm thinking back to the days late 80s during the legendary New Music Seminar where damn near everyone and their grandma would come to Hip Hop's birthplace and attempt to break through. As Hip Hop evolved conventions began popping up in other cities where Hip Hop was flourishing. First it was Los Angeles then other spots like San Francisco, New Orleans, Miami and Atlanta played host. Over the years I've been to all sorts of conventions like Urban Network, Impact, Rap Sheet, Jack The Rapper and The Gavin Convention to name a select few. In all these seminars I always noticed scores of people from other countries spending tons of money and taking time to come over here attempting to breakthrough. I also noticed a similar 'elitist' and sometimes disdainful attitude toward our foreign visitors as it was back in the days for non New York Hip Hop artist visiting the Big Apple. Folks really didn't time out to acknowledge and note that there are indeed thriving Hip Hop scenes outside of the US. We got caught up in thinking that life begins and ends at our shores.
I recall going to Seminars back in the '80s and folks from The Big Apple just outright refusing to except the fact that Hip Hop existed beyond the 5 boroughs. Even folks from nearby Jersey or Philly had a rough time finding acceptance. The prevailing thought was if it wasn't from New York it wasn't real. If it wasn't from New York it wasn't even Hip Hop. Every so often some one would come along and exude some skillz that would shatter the myth of NY being the only place for Hip Hop. In those days it was usually the deejays who made strides. Most notable was in 1987 DJ Joe Cooley of Los Angeles going up against DJ Cash Money of Philadelphia in what is still a legendary Battle for Hip Hop World Supremacy. It was one of the first times two finalist competed in either the emcee or dj battles who weren't from New York. It wasn't until some of these seminar took the show on the road and folks got to see Hip Hop in other cities. The Gavin Conventions held in SF during the early 90s help refocus and redefine the boundaries. That was later followed by Atlanta, New Orleans and other spots.. But again aside from a few cats here and there like DJ Honda..folks were not really giving acknowledgement to the scenes outside the states......
