It’s highly unlikely that you will see a post from me that gives Viacom any credit for something positive, but somehow they lucked up with the Hip-Hop Honors project. VH-1 has been the chief sponsor for the upcoming Hip-Hop Honors week here in New York City. There is a full slate of free events scheduled for all around the city with some focusing on the educational aspect of Hip-Hop, the empowerment facet, and of course, the entertainment component.
For at least one week, it’s a great time to be a fan of this here thing called Hip-Hop.
Kicking off on Thursday, October 12th Hip-Hop Education day finds various artists working with kids throughout NYC’s public schools. The message for the day should be about using education as a tool to acheive one’s goals. I’m not sure which artists have been assigned to attend these sessions, but I pray that G-Unit and DipSet were disinvited. The day culminates with the opening of the documentary ‘No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn’, a 30-year retrospective of hip hop culture illustrating it’s humble beginnings in the South Bronx through its glorious rise to global domination.
Friday, Oct. 13th, will be Hip-Hop Restaurant Day during which restaurants in all of the five boros will feature special discounts and promotions. If Friday the 13th isn’t scary enough for you, REMY MA will be serving food at Junior’s Times Square. Let’s pray she wears a hairnet over that hot yakky madness.
Hip-Hop Music and Culture day will be on Saturday, October 14th and there will be special events taking place at ome of the city’s foremost cultural institutions, like ‘Graffiti Basics’
at the Brooklyn Museum of Art and The Hip Hop Cultural Centre at the Magic Johnson Theatre. The special treat for the evening will be when the legendary EPMD reunite for a special one-off performance at the B.B.Kings’ nightclub. I already dusted off my fisherman’s cap.
Sunday October 15th has been designated Hip-Hop Sports and Parks day and will be capped off by a celebrity basketball game featuring CHRIS BROWN, ICE-T, KURTIS BLOW and others. Since basketball is only promoted to the jig babies I will be in Van Cortlandt Park playing lacrosse with Everlast, MC Serch, Bubba Sparkxx and any other random non-jigs we can muster. Come on through, no READE SELIGMANN.
Monday the 16th is when we get finally have a chance to pay respects to the trends in design and fashion that Hip-Hop has inspired. On Hip-Hop Fashion and Shopping day we will even get a 10% discount at all Jimmy Jazz negrophilia outlets. Jimmy Jazz is where I buy all my ‘snowman’ t-shirts and Ice Cream hoodies.
Finally, on Tuesday evening at 9:00pm, VH-1 broadcasts their 2006 Hip-Hop Honors awards program. This year’s hip hop honorees include Wu-Tang Clan, AFRIKA BAMBAATAA, Wig Owner RUSSELL SIMMONS, MC Lyte, RAKIM, Beastie Boys and Eazy E. The music and influence of each of the honorees will be recognized through performances by classic artists in collaboration with today’s hottest new talent. It might be the only thing that Viacom produces all year that is truly worth watching, unless you love the white glove minstrelsy of ‘Flavor of Love’.
