FOR THE CULTURE A Celebration of Hip-Hop Comes to Detroit

In a celebration of Hip-Hop Culture, Detroit's Motor City Street Dance Academy (MCSDA), directed by B-Boy veteran Benito "Mav One" Vasquez, will be hosting a B-boy/break dance competition for the Celebrating Southwest concert series at the Ford Resource and Engagement Center, aka "The Mercado" at 2826 Bagley in Southwest Detroit. Mav One is a long-time B-boy practitioner, community and cultural organizer and Hip-Hop enthusiast. Supported by the beats and spinning of DJ Soul Rane, dozens of B-boy crews from across the Midwest will compete in a 2 vs. 2 breaking battle, all competing for credibility and a $600 grand prize. Winner takes all!

Also performing in the July 29th concert lineup is the dynamic media arts collective, We Are Culture Creators, "a fluid movement of artists that range from visual to sonic," will be featuring several emcees and some of Detroit's best young and upcoming talent including DiMaciiio, Yakuza moon, Jay Squared, Supreme Flows and Curtis Roach. Collectively, members have been featured in Vibe Magazine, OkPlayer, The Source, Metro Times, HBO, and Music on the Road. Currently, the label is cultivating Detroit's new wave and range in ages between 17 and 22 years old.

Recording and performance artist, community activist and overall Hip-Hop matriarch Mahogany Jones will team up with the up-and-coming Modern Element, a band of Jazz artists consisting of 6 young men from Detroit ranging from 17-20, and will be delivering and incredibly dynamic performance consisting of rhythmic beats supported by live instruments. Mahogany is a 2016 Kresge Arts Fellow, Detroit Music Award nominee, and four-time, undefeated champion of BET's "106 & Park" Freestyle Friday, and has shared the stage with such names as Rapsody, Les Nubians, Gil Scott Heron, KEM, and Talib Kweli. Modern Element will add a twist of Hip-Hop to funky, modern jazz, and has previously studied under the wings of Marcus Elliott

Also featured at the event will be aerosol art workshops, live painting, an interactive DJ booth, henna art painting, youth arts and crafts, a sketch artist, and information on local community resources and programming. Food and beverages will be offered by The Twisted Mitten and Mangonadas at a nominal fee. The free concert series sponsors are, The Ford Motor Company Fund and Gleaners Community Food Bank, continue the tradition of presenting art, culture and community resources along with musical entertainment.

Event organizer Evan Villeneuve stated, "'For the Culture' Hip-Hop Celebration aims to celebrate the 5 elements of Hip-Hop: DJing, Emceeing, Breaking, Street Art, and Knowledge in a format that is open and accessible to the community at large. It's pivotal for our young people to recognize that their talents and passions can be uplifted and showcased, while young folks in attendance can likewise see the possibilities and opportunities in their own communities."

In addition to the July 29th Celebration of Hip-Hop, the concert schedule is as follows: Arab American Celebration - Saturday, August 19; and Latino/Hispanic Celebration - Saturday, September 9. All concert events run from 4:00PM - 8:00PM.

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