Hip-hop gets students in the groove for Black History Month
By Michelle Rideau
Female hip-hop artist, English emcee, and radio personality Monie Love gave a live performance at the Elements of Hip-hop Through the Decades Feb. 11 in the Arts and Science Center Theater.
The event held a panel discussion hosting Monie Love and local disc jockeys Dave Mays, Jason Felton and Darius Godwin.
The event, which is a part of the Global Understanding Series discussed four topics: DJing, MC-ing, breakdancing, and graffiti art. The panelists addressed hip-hop’s global influence and how it transformed media, sports, and modern life. The audience was given an opportunity to ask questions and opinions on several related topics.
The event closed with Monie Love performing “Monie in the Middle.” After the show, panelists took pictures and offered private conversations with audience members.
Data Center Supervisor Jason Felton, known by his stage name “DJ Smoove,” has been DJing for more than 20 years. He says the level of influence music plays in the environment is misunderstood by the community.
He describes music as a universal language that has an ability to unite people. He says music not only gives him the power to control the atmosphere of the events he performs but people as well.
“I can play a song that will unite this entire room,” Felton said. “All I have to do is pick the right one.”
Felton considers DJ-ing as an artform. He likes the challenge of reading his audience and finding what music they are likely to dance to. Every song he plays paints a picture because each offers a different meaning to different people, he says. Felton describes DJ-ing as a “release” that allows him to “take pictures” or memories each night he performs.
Every genre of music has its varying degrees of talent; however, Felton said hip-hop is his favorite genre. He says there is positive hip-hop music, people just have to search for it and weave through the “garbage.”
“There’s good hip-hop made every year, you just have to find it,” Felton said.
Committee Members Encourage African American History
Black History Month Committee member Janie Tunnell Miller said the committee developed the event since September, thinking anything involving music and movement would intrigue students and the local community. This event was specifically created to provide more knowledge for students in an open environment where they can interact and meet those responsible for key points in African American History.
Miller said her love and knowledge of history was instilled in her as a child and it has always been very important to her.
“No matter what’s being presented, if it has anything to do with your history you ought to have a need to reach out and grab some of that,” she said.
Stay Motivated to Attend Global Understanding Events
Vice President and Campus Director Ileana Smith supports all Global Understanding programs and was delighted Black History Month could be a part of it. Smith was eager to learn how hip-hop music impacted culture. She hopes Global Understanding brings greater awareness and appreciation for others.
“It’s an opportunity for others to gain respect, admiration, and appreciation for people,” she said.
“I think that’s the reason why we should come to these events, because it’s a blend of being entertained but the opportunity to learn,” she said.
She was excited to hear the panelists share their personal experiences with the audience.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to stretch and look from another point of view,” she said.
Smith encourages everyone to find time for Global Understanding events no matter how busy their schedule is.
“I haven’t heard a single person who hasn’t made time say they regret it,” she said.
Smith is partly responsible for appointing the Black History Month Committee that consists of employees, students, and the local community.
For more information about Global Understanding, e-mail Denise Berry at yberry@dtcc.edu.
