Student Organization Spotlight: CSU Hip-Hop Cultural Association
New association screening documentary Style Wars Dec. 4
Christopher Enoch
Issue date: 11/30/09 Section: News
Drop a flow over a hot beat and step up your vocab while you are at it: a new hip-hop student organization has started its initial advances into the Cleveland State University (CSU) mainstream. With numerous academic courses and student associations exploring hip-hop music, culture, history and the impacts of the movement springing up around the nation's universities and colleges, CSU is no longer left behind.
"Hip hop is a cultural movement that began to emerge out of the Bronx in 1973 and ever since then it has been a force to unite people from all over the world. The mission of the organization is to keep that tradition going and expand it," said David Edwards, president of the new CSU Hip-Hop Cultural Association. CSU students Mai-Kim Dang, Juelz Banderas and Roman Verzub serve as the organization's vice-president, treasurer and secretary, respectively.
Having planned a screening for the PBS documentary "Style Wars" this Friday in the Fenn Tower movie theater, the organization is certainly an original presence among student organizations at CSU - the association only debuted this fall and is the first of its kind. "Style Wars" is a PBS documentary on graffiti in New York at the origins of the hip-hop movement. The documentary contains footage of break-dancing from groups such as The Rock Steady Crew and The Dynamic Rockers. "The film gives viewers an inside look into the lives of graffiti artists and the conflicts they faced between local government and other graffiti artists," Edwards revealed.
"It is free to attend, people can come up. We are going to have a good discussion afterward and see what people thought of the film and if people have any comments," said Verzub.
The first objective in the association's undertakings: changing minds and altering perceptions. "Unfortunately, many people get the wrong impression when they think of hip-hop. They limit their knowledge of hip-hop to what they watch on MTV or BET or what they read in The Source or XXL. Many artists who don't promote a stereotype or whose music is thought-provoking and is able to transcend the human experience through intelligent lyrics are marginalized. I want to give those alternative artists a platform for their music. The group will also work on exposing the student body to graffiti, break-dancing, beat-boxing, fashion and other elements that are a part or are associated with hip-hop culture," Edwards stated.
"Hip hop is a cultural movement that began to emerge out of the Bronx in 1973 and ever since then it has been a force to unite people from all over the world. The mission of the organization is to keep that tradition going and expand it," said David Edwards, president of the new CSU Hip-Hop Cultural Association. CSU students Mai-Kim Dang, Juelz Banderas and Roman Verzub serve as the organization's vice-president, treasurer and secretary, respectively.
Having planned a screening for the PBS documentary "Style Wars" this Friday in the Fenn Tower movie theater, the organization is certainly an original presence among student organizations at CSU - the association only debuted this fall and is the first of its kind. "Style Wars" is a PBS documentary on graffiti in New York at the origins of the hip-hop movement. The documentary contains footage of break-dancing from groups such as The Rock Steady Crew and The Dynamic Rockers. "The film gives viewers an inside look into the lives of graffiti artists and the conflicts they faced between local government and other graffiti artists," Edwards revealed.
"It is free to attend, people can come up. We are going to have a good discussion afterward and see what people thought of the film and if people have any comments," said Verzub.
The first objective in the association's undertakings: changing minds and altering perceptions. "Unfortunately, many people get the wrong impression when they think of hip-hop. They limit their knowledge of hip-hop to what they watch on MTV or BET or what they read in The Source or XXL. Many artists who don't promote a stereotype or whose music is thought-provoking and is able to transcend the human experience through intelligent lyrics are marginalized. I want to give those alternative artists a platform for their music. The group will also work on exposing the student body to graffiti, break-dancing, beat-boxing, fashion and other elements that are a part or are associated with hip-hop culture," Edwards stated.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
tabby
posted 11/30/09 @ 9:32 PM EST
Yippie Kai Yaa!
Tits McGee
posted 12/03/09 @ 12:06 AM EST
I am not a grampa
essay written
posted 12/06/09 @ 9:09 PM EST
It is great that exist such organizarions that keep the tradition of hip-hop and expand it.
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