Music / News
All day event celebrating 50 years of Hip Hop to take place in Bristol
Hip Hop officially turns 50 on August 11.
On that day in 1973, DJ Kool Herc hosted a Block Party Jam in the Bronx, New York – spinning vinyl cuts on two turntables hosted by a master of ceremonies using his father’s sound system, which he had brought with him from Jamaica following migration.
Freestyle Bristol and Bris-Story will mark this occasion with an all day, family-friendly, free event on August 12 at Sparks Bristol.
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It is one of nine free events running across the city centre this summer as part of Bristol’s Summer Film Takeover, presented by Bristol UNESCO City of Film and partners.
The day will kick off at 12pm with award-winning radio station Ujima98 FM broadcasting live from the event.
Unique archive footage, music videos and mini Hip Hop documentaries will be screened, curated by Gary Thompson (Cables & Cameras) and Adam Murray (Come The Revolution).
There will be graffiti workshops with the 4 Elements and DJ workshops with DJ Bunjy suitable for all ages, an art and merchandise marketplace, and performances from local artists, DJ’s and breakdancers including MC Kelz, BBoy Maartian and Wish Master.
From 5pm there will be screenings of two classic Hip Hop movies: Beat Street, the 1984 film directed by Stan Latham, focuses on a group of young graffiti artists, breakers, MC’s & DJ’s as they battle for success and recognition in the South Bronx during the 1980’s.
Following that will be Wild Style, the 1983 film directed by Charlie Ahearn, which features seminal figures such as Fab Five Freddy, Lee Quiñones, Lady Pink, The Rock Steady Crew, The Cold Crush Brothers, Queen Lisa Lee of Zulu Nation, Grandmaster Flash and ZEPHYR.
The festivity will continue into the evening with the official After Party, in association with Code of the Streets and 4 Pillars.
The line up assembled for this night has been carefully selected for their contributions towards the music scene over the decades in the city, featuring: DJ Lynx, BOCA 45, DJ Bunjy, DJ Style James 90, DJ Cridge and MC Kelz.
The festivity will continue into the evening with the official after party, in association with Code of the Streets & 4 Pillars. The line up assembled for this night has been carefully selected for their contributions towards the music scene over the decades in the city. Expect to hear some favourite classics, as we reminisce about the golden era of music.
reserve your free tickets for the film screenings of Wild Style and Beat Street in advance, via https://freestylebristol.com/the4pillars/
Tickets for the after party can be found at https://www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/whats-on/basement-45/sat-12-aug-4-pillars-official-after-party-93339#e93339
Main photo: @vandalist_murals
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