Experience Hip Hop history in the making as supporters from around the country gather in Seattle to celebrate and experience the 5th Anniversary of 206 Zulu, Feb. 13-16.
In only a few short years 206 Zulu, a Hip Hop-based community organization, has received nation-wide recognition for the precedence it has set in community building, education, media, outreach, activism, and artistic excellence. Since its inception in 2004, 206 Zulu and its 70+ membership has taken the UZN motto of "Peace, Love, Unity & Havin' Fun" to another level for the next generation.
206 Zulu will be celebrating it's 5th Anniversary and Black History Month with four days of true-school Hip Hop, showcasing some of today's emerging artists from the Northwest and beyond. The majority of events will be held at the Seattle Center and are free to the public. Festivities will include musical performances, a Hip Hop film festival, a graffiti art showcase, educational-orientated workshops, a break-dance competition, after parties and more.
Youth workshops will begin at Seattle's premiere all-ages venue the Vera Project, Saturday from 2-4pm with a range of breakout sessions that will include: Hip Hop History, Emceeing & Songwriting, B-Boying & B-Girling (break-dance), DJing & Audio Technology, and Graffiti Art. Doors open at 1:30pm and the orientation starts at 2pm. Walk-ins are welcome and there are no registration fees. If you have questions or would like to register your student or community group, please contact coordinator BeLoved at [email protected].
Later that afternoon Real to Reel: Hip Hop Film Festival demonstrates the power of Hip Hop culture and community as an outlet for social change from local to global perspectives through this three-day interactive multimedia showcase. Films include Bringing Hip-Hop Back To The Hood: Seattle Grassroots Organizing Shorts, Masizakhe, Let Us Build Together, Coolout TV Presents, A Beautiful One Man Show and more. Show times and further information is available at www.206zulu.com/realtoreel.html.
The Graff Expo will take place during the entire day and will encompass live painting, a writer's bench with black book sessions, and an art gallery, which will remain on display for the month of February. Artists include Sire One, DVS, OneSevenNine, Sen One (NYC), Charms Won and many others.
Saturday's festivities will culminate to a live concert with performances by One Be Lo (Detroit, MI), Dim Mak of Oldominion, Khingz, D-Black of Sport-N-Life, Siren's Echo (Portland, OR), DJ Mark Luv (Los Angeles, CA) among other emerging artists.
Mighty 4, an internationally-famed touring break-dance competition will be held the following day on Sunday at the Experience Music Project Museum and will consist of 3 types of battles (heats), 3-on-3, Bonnie & Clyde, and Footwork with cash prizes totaling $4000. Special guests include Mighty 4 founder- Paulskeee, judges Trac2 (Hartford, CT), Alien Ness (New York City), Orbitron (Seattle, WA), Poe One (LA, CA), and Remind (Monterey, CA). Musical performances by Dyme Def, Orbitron and They Live. Breaks will be spun by veteran DJs Soul One (DVS), DV One (Rock Steady Crew), Bles One, and Tecumseh. Hosted by Kutfather (San Diego, CA), Lord Yoda X of the Legendary Crash Crew (NYC), Rob Nice and Free (Circle of Fire). Registrations will open at 2:06pm at the EMP's JBL Theater. There is limited space, it is strongly recommended to come early.
The event is sponsored by the City of Seattle, Rane Corporation, KBCS 91.3 FM, Hip Hop Congress, Festival Sundiata, Mighty 4, Beacon Skillz, El Centro de la Raza, Platinum Records, Spoons Apparel, Mint Factory, Driver4Hire.biz, Seattle Drum School, Hidmo Eritrean Cusine, the Vera Project, EMP/SFM, Bamboo Beats, Wicked X Productions, MADK Productions, Coolout Network and Umojafest P.E.A.C.E. Center.
For information on the 5th Anniversary events, after parties, media specials and more, log onto: www.206zulu.com/anniversary.html.