Rakim featured at 5th annual Hip Hop Expression
BRIDGEPORT — The fifth annual Hip Hop Expression of Black History will be held Feb. 29 at the Margaret E. Morton Center, 999 Broad St.
Sponsored by Connecticut Against Violence, the event will feature a conversation with Rakim, author of “Sweat the Technique.” Also featured will be Ernie Paniccioli, Doctor Dre and Steve Cass. Moderator is Thembisa Mshaka.
The program starts at 11 a.m. with an invitationonly forum on Hip Hop and Gun Violence that will be simulcast into the main hall. The rest of the program, which runs to 3 p.m., is free to the public with no pre-registration required. Parents are asked to accompany youth.
Rakim is a legendary artist from the duo Eric B and Rakim. He will perform and do a book signing. He is the author of “Sweat the Technique,” which is called part memoir, part writing guide into how Rakim thinks about words, music, writing and rhyming.
Kingsley Osei, executive director of CAV, said the event is meant to educate as well as entertain.
“It is also a way to send a message to the country about the positivity in our city that’s normally shadowed by gun violence,” Osei said.
Awards will be given to select individuals throughout the state for their contribution to Hip Hop Music and Culture in Connecticut. Award recipients are asked to mentor youth in the community by teaching them their craft.
Invited participants include U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Mayor Joseph Ganim, Police Chief Armando “A.J.” Perez, survivors of gun violence and others.
The program includes lunch, an arts and craft workshop for children, a display of Hip Hop arts and photography.
For information, contact Osei at 917-416-4601.