Hip-Hop Essentials

On October 22, over 30 teens showed up for Hip-Hop Essentials  Featuring The One Sun Lion Ra and DJ Ambush!  We were in the middle of the adult library, so there were a lot of other people who stopped by the program or listened while they were on the computers.  The program was a positive, interactive discussion of hip-hop history and culture.  Ra also did some rapping and beat-boxing, and got a few kids up on the mic at the end! 

This program was funded by a grant from the Delaware County Office of Behavioral Health.  Thanks for your support!  And thanks to DJ Ambush for filling in when DJ Brother Jamar couldn't make it.  It was great to have you.

 Ra talking to the group

Beat-boxing

 Another shot of Ra talking  :)

A few guys were brave enough to freestyle on the mic.  They did an amazing job, rapping about everyday stuff like school, fast food, and their families.

From Jazz to Hip Hop

Last night, The One Sun Lion Ra and DJ Brother Jamar returned to our library to do a program for Upper Darby's Big Read. The book for the Big Read is Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, a classic of the Harlem Renaissance era. We brought Ra and Jamar back to talk about the connections between jazz and hip hop, and about 40 people of all ages came out to hear them.

Ra and Jamar approached the topic from a variety of angles, so they kept it interesting! Ra talked about some jazz performers (with help from a vintage hip hop record), freestyled over Jamar's mix of jazz music, and talked a little history. Jamar played some hip hop songs and then showed where the samples came from, and also did a contest where he played the original and asked audience members to name the artist and song that sampled it. Ra finished up the presentation with a performance and then Jamar showed people how to spin records on his turntables. I hope we can find a reason to have them back again soon!!

Jamar and Ra had prizes for a "name that sample" contest.

Ra looked debonair in his fedora!

The One Sun Lion Ra, DJ Brother Jamar, DJ Hot Blast, and me.

Ra and Jamar Redux

Last Wednesday, about 20 people came out to see The One Sun Lion Ra and DJ Brother Jamar at Sellers. This is the second time they have come, and we were happy to have them back to promote their positive spin on hip hop culture! We set up in the adult library, so we had a lot of walk-through traffic for the program in addition to the teens who officially attended. Ra and Jamar know a lot about different styles of music, and it was fun to hear Jamar talk about samples and looping. Ra spat out some amazing rhymes, including one freestyle verse about me and the library. It was an excellent start to our Express Yourself summer programming, and we hope to have them back again soon.

Ra working the crowd.

Jamar and Ra performing.

A performance shot with the audience.

Hanging out after the program.

Our Hip Hop Program!

Last Wednesday, we hosted The One Sun Lion Ra and DJ Brother Jamar for an after-school hip-hop program. It was amazing! Although we got off to a slow start, once people downstairs heard the music they started wandering up to the program room. We ended up with 28 teens and 3 moms! Ra talked about how to present yourself as a performer in a positive manner and did several interactive performances. Jamar brought a full DJ set-up, complete with turntables and laptop. My favorite part was when Ra challenged Jamar to lay down a beat he couldn't flow to...and Jamar eventually came up with a song from the Charlie Brown Christmas album that caused Ra some pause. Thanks to the Delaware County Library System and a Fit for Life grant from Libraries for the Future for supporting this event! I hope to have Ra and Jamar come back this summer for another program.

Ra points at someone to add a word to his song.

The One Sun Lion Ra and D.J. Brother Jamar doing a performance.

Another shot of Ra interacting with the group.