The West Indian Roots of Hip Hop

Presented by City Lore and The Point CDC
Bring Out the Sound System
The West Indian Roots of Hip Hop
Saturday, February 28th, 2009, 3pm - 6pm
Free and Open to the Public
The Point CDC
940 Garrison Avenue in the Bronx NY 10474

Dr. Natasha Lightfoot of the Bronx African-American Oral History Project, will lead a discussion featuring hip hop pioneers and legends including DJ Kool Herc, Kool DJ Red Alert, Ralph McDaniels (Video Music Box) and VP Records co-founder, Patricia Chin. VP Records (named after founders Patricia and Vincent) was founded 50 years ago as a record store in Kingston called Randy's Record Mart, at a time when reggae existed only on the streets with DJs improvising toasts over the music, and large speaker systems brought out into the parks. They went on to record many of the DJ and reggae legends in Jamaica. Writers from the bi-monthly journal, Wax Poetics, will also be on hand to take part in the discussion.

The discussion will be followed by a demonstration on Jamaican and hip hop sound systems from the 1970s by DJ Kool Herc and Brother Vincent. The evening concludes with a reception, where audience members can view: From Mambo to Hip Hop: The Exhibit, a photo exhibit which complements City Lore's award-winning documentary directed by Henry Chalfant, From Mambo to Hip Hop: A South Bronx Tale; dance to the music of DJ Just Ice; and purchase West Indian fare provided by Bascom Catering with delicious roti, jerk and curry chicken, and salt fish.
For more information, please call City Lore at 212.529.1955 ext 306 or The Point at 718.542.4139 ext 27.

Train direction to The Point: 6 Train to Hunt's Point. Walk underneath the Bruckner overpass and take a left onto Garrison. The Point is one block down on your left.
Funded by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, and The Scherman Foundation. Publicity, Tools of War.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Graffiti: Freddy Sepulveda; Photo: Henry Chalfant; Design by Beth Higgins and Paco Levine
City Lore www.citylore.org 72 East 1st St. New York, NY 10003 t 212.529.1955 f 212.529.5062 e info@citylore.org