Aerosol Art: Plains won’t let the hip hop stop

By Anne Krapu
Contributing Writer

In reference to jazz, one of the founders of modern dance, Isodora Duncan once lamented, “It seems to me monstrous that anyone should believe that the jazz rhythm expresses America. Jazz rhythm expresses the primitive savage.”

With regard to rock, Frank Sinatra reportedly complained the musical genre was “The most brutal, desperate vicious form of expression it has been my misfortune to hear.” In 2001, CNN reported a spreading global epidemic. Before Swine Flu and SARS, this particular phenomenon was decidedly more creative than destructive.

The explosion of hip hop as music-based lifestyle had spread beyond the US to Europe, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia. Having originated in New York in the 1970s, hip hop’s blend of reggae, disco, and funk, among numerous other influences, even the US Department of State recognizes hip hop as a “center of a mega music and fashion industry around the world.” Transmitted via radio airwaves, television, designs destined for the mass market and the Internet, hip hop has undeniably made its mark upon both American and global cultures.

Like jazz and rock, however, hip hop has been brushed aside by many as something to ignore or fight against rather than understand or respect. During its inception 35 years ago, the hip hop movement was credited with reducing inner city gang violence by giving disaffected youth an artistic outlet for negative aggression.

With the advent of gangster rap (only one of many, many sub-genres within hip hop) in more recent times and the charges that accompanied it, namely of promoting disrespect for law enforcement, glorifying drug use, and condoning of misogyny, viewing hip hop as a credible creative force may be difficult for some. Like the musical forms preceding it, hip hop has faced an uphill battle for legitimacy and one that has largely been waged by younger generations.

Having reached the far-flung destinations listed above, hip hop will soon be receiving more attention locally. With Hip Hop Don’t Stop¸ organizer Paul Ide is taking a multi-faceted, awareness-based approach to explain, legitimate, and highlight hip hop as a genuine artistic movement in the FM area.

According to Ide, the motivation behind the project is to “Promote the hip hop culture in a positive way, provide education and accessibility for the entire community, establish a permanent public art mural that will commemorate the event and beautify Fargo, and finally to entertain.”

The event incorporates numerous elements of the hip hop culture with the aim of educating participants about the positive qualities of a movement that is frequently misunderstood and denied equal standing with other, once revolutionary cultural innovations such as jazz and rock. In crafting the event, Ide has aimed to grant exposure to the areas of aerosol art, break dancing, DJ and emcee performances, as well as an educational symposium focusing on the history and evolution of aerosol art.

To clarify, while “ graffiti” may be the more common term for aerosol art, Ide believes the negative connotation carried by the word degrades the merit of culturally significant artwork that deserves time for exploration. Hip Hop Don’t Stop will begin with the educational symposium featuring seven in-demand aerosol artists from the Midwest to collaborate with local artists with the goal of creating a large-scale mural described by Ide as “carefully planned and skillfully executed.”

For lay observers, familiar with aerosol art only by virtue of having witnessed it on train cars passing through the downtown FM areas or other similar circumstances, skepticism is not an uncommon response to aerosol as art. According to Ide, however, the mural has the possibility of providing a public venue for local and regional talent to show off their skills as well as the creation of dialogue among artists and observers about the medium.

In addition to allowing the public an opportunity to view aerosol art in a different light, Ide believes the event will also be a beneficial experience for local artists. The symposium will provide an outdoor open studio to be used for instruction, critique, and demonstrations for the public. When asked what he would say to someone who might view Hip Hop Don’t Stop as outside of their realm of interest, Ide explained,

“This event could the Genesis of something much bigger than any of us can even imagine. Maybe I have a romanticized view of all of this, but that is how I see it. This is about Fargo, but in a much broader sense, this is about the Midwest hip hop scene. The East and West coasts have a strong, boisterous voice within the hip hop culture. The Midwest voice is gaining strength, and is fighting for it. Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, Minneapolis…Fargo.”

With respect to the Fargo hip hop scene, Ide also relays,

“The hip hop scene in Fargo is quite strong. It has been gaining strength over the past 5 to 10 years as new talent emerges and old talent continues to progress and hold it down. In the same breath I have to address, from my own inferences, the idea that our strong scene is disconnected. The primary motivation for this event is to remedy this problem.

I wanted to see the four basic elements of hip hop come together, not just for this one event and roll the credits, but from here on out. I understand that not everyone involved in the hip hop scene is going to want to be a part of this. This event is for those that do. Disc jockeys, emcees and beat-boxers, break dancers and graffiti writers, working together, pooling their talent and resources simply for the love of hip hop.”

Ultimately, Ide explains, “We are trying to get people to understand the positive aspects of hip hop and introduce avenues for artistic expression. Jazz and rock ‘n roll both persevered. The people who listened to the music turned out to be productive members of society. Today’s youth will too. Let’s be a part of that.” To be a part of Hip Hop Don’t Stop, check out the sidebar.

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Festivities:

Friday, July 17, American Legion, ALL AGES, 9 pm – 2 am. KANSER Crown City Rockers, Ernie Rhodes, MeAndYouCrew, DJ Stupid Brithday w/ Johnny Appleseed and Rustic, DJ Guy Jean

Hosted by Robbie Showgun (he will likely perform a couple of tracks)

Saturday, July 18, The Aquarium, 9 pm – 2 am, 21+, DJ Stupid Birthday with Cheef, Trey Lane, Greenhand, DJ Dextrious , DJ Hot Ribs (More TBA)

@ the Plains Art Museum…

Friday, July 17, 6 pm - 7:30 pm

Hip Hop Don’t Stop Discussion & Dance

Artists discuss the history and the significance of creating aerosol art in the Midwest followed by a break dancing session by Ill Technique

Saturday, July 18, 9 am - 9 pm

Aerosol art mural creation

Hip-hop music by various artists from the FM area and throughout the Midwest, Noon - 4pm Plains Art Museum parking lot

Sunday, July 19, 9 am - 9 pm

Aerosol art mural creation. Hip-hop music by various artists from the FM area and throughout the Midwest, Noon - 8 pm. Plains Art Museum parking lot.