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How Can Hip Hop Save the World? Lessons from a Seattle Youth Service Scandal

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On March 3rd, I was invited to speak at an intimate panel at Seattle University called “How Can Hip Hop Save the World?” The gathering, brought together by SU’s Mary Pauline Diaz, featured Mako Fitts, Ready C from my crew Alpha P, and myself, as well as about 10 student participants. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was inspired by the topic, ensuing conversation, and current events to write this article up.

Before addressing how Hip Hop can save the world, you first have to determine whether it can, and what “Hip Hop” means to begin with. Now although we could debate cultural memory, nommo, and collective experience all day, the truth is that the only thing that brings most of us together under the umbrella of “Hip Hop” is that we, as artists, engage in the artistic practices deemed by Afrika Bambaataa to be the elements of Hip Hop: bboy/girling, emceeing, graffiti, Djing, beat-making, etc. Of course cultural production in Hip Hop is not just limited to that, it also includes secondary extensions of this. For example, independent media/websites/shows such as Seaspot, Flava News, Coolout Network, Untappedmuzik, All Power to the Positive, Seattle Hip Hop Street Fights, Street Sounds, Boombox FM, She Ready Radio, and Zulu Radio are included here as well as bloggers like those at Raindrophustla, Chul Gugich from 206up, Hugh from Blogsiswatching.com, and Miss Casey Carter, writers like Marian Liu and Jonathan Cunningham, even online forum mafiosos like the habitue of 206Proof are Hip Hop cultural producers. Promoters/venues/functions are also hugely important to Hip Hop cultural production (think Dope Emporium, UmojaFest, Obese Productions, an institution like Stop Biting at Lofi (shouts to Introcut), or Ladies First, formally at Hidmo, etc.) Extending even farther out, we can include fashion (think Mint Factory Clothing or CrisisNW Gear), photography (like Ruf Top Productions, and Jennifer Mary), and a plethora of others. Through this lens, Hip Hop CREATES communities around these artistic practices and acts of cultural production. The question then shifts from “Can Hip Hop save the world?” to “Can communities save the world?” and of course, the answer here is yes. But what role does Hip Hop have in this?

As an artist, and like a lot of artists and cultural producers out here in the Northwest Hip Hop scene, I believe in community accountability to the youth. We do not just understand and create art about issues of gentrification, poverty/job creation, educational reform, healthcare, and youth violence prevention, we organize and mobilize for positive changes within our spheres of influence around these issues, for their benefit. I’ve worked with organizations who turn crack houses into community centers and throw Hip Hop Leadership Conferences (Seattle Hip Hop Youth Council & Umojafest P.E.A.C.E. Center), organizations who connect artists with schools, play cafeterias and gymnasiums, and organize city-wide Youth Summits (206 Zulu), collectives who throw multi-day free all-ages Hip Hop festivals with youth showcases (Dope Emporium), business owners who turn their restaurants into activists hubs and performance spaces, who launch community empowerment projects (Hidmo), and I’ve been blessed to connect with other collectives, organizations, and crews in cities across the country who share the same priorities and mission in this work. (Shouts to DeBug in San Jose, W.I.T in Kentucky, J.U.I.C.E and GorillaMic in Los Angeles, IMAN & Coalition to Protect Public Housing in Chicago, B Girl Be in Minneapolis, W.E.A.P in Oakland, and all trues in the PPEHRC, UZN, HHC networks). There’s power in this groundswell.

Through my travels, connecting with “Hip Hop” communities across the country, I’ve also learned that the national policies and initiatives enacted locally on a state, county, & city level have created common struggles & challenges for us. Broadening our perspective on these issues to include the struggles of communities outside our scene allows us to see how these issues manifest in different cities, and facilitates better understanding on how we can enact change in Seattle. One example of this is HUD Block Grants that wiped out public housing in virtually every urban community across the country, shrouding the reality of gentrification and urban economic displacement under the guise of “private-public partnerships”. Another very recent example is the Youth Violence Prevention Initiative (YVPI). Most don’t know that at the time this was launched in Seattle two years ago, former Mayor Nickels was the President of the National Council of Mayors, and it’s not a stretch to say his decision to entrust the Seattle Urban League with a no-bid multi-million dollar grant for executing the project locally was in no small part due to the “New Deal” partnership for the Conference of Mayors and the National Urban League announced at their centennial celebration.

Two years ago, at the time this happened, I was working with Umojafest P.E.A.C.E Center, Mother’s Outreach Movement, Hip Hop Congress, and a collective of over 20 other local Hip Hop and youth advocacy organizations in the Unite for Youth Coalition, who were very much in the trenches of youth violence prevention work. The coalition members were also very concerned with the city’s move to hand these desperately needed funds over to the Urban League, an organization with questionable leadership, a history of unsavory community appropriation, and virtually no track record of notable violence prevention work. Plus at the same time, the city of Seattle was proposing to build a $110 million dollar jail, and the new Seattle School District Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson (who was just fired March 3rd by the school board over the recent scandal) was proposing to shut down six schools. We organized, and began contacting people in the mayor’s office, on the school board, and in the Urban League, and our concern only grew. As community organizers and youth service workers, we were uncomfortable with 1) the disconnect of these conversations 2) the Seattle School District’s questionable management of public funds and their inability to keep schools open 3) the lack of transparency, really the shroud of secrecy over the Urban League’s plans for the violence prevention money. Two years ago, we staged demonstrations, put out articles on the issue, and did our best to engage our communities in the conversation, for the interest of the youth. Were we successful in raising awareness and asking questions? Yes. Were we able to prevent the scandalous debacle that ensued? No.

Today, two years later, after at least four schools are closed, the Seattle Times front page is riddled with stories about the Seattle School District’s financial scandal, how over a million dollars was handed over to vendors that never did anything but get the money, and how the single largest recipient of that money was the Seattle Urban League. This all came out after the Urban League quietly lost the YVPI contract in January, after they spent $900,000 with little to show for it. (Here’s the city’s performance evaluation for the larger half of that amount). I’d be interested to hear how this played out in other cities.

Despite all this, ours was not a lost battle. Quite the contrary, the pressure and spotlight put on Former Mayor Nickels and his administration came right before elections season. Hip Hop ran its own candidate, Wyking Garrett, for the purposes of putting these and other critical issues on the table, and coalitions of urban youth organizations like the Young Voter’s League were hosting their own candidate forums at which Nickels was virtually absent. Although Wyking lost in primaries, the face time we bought with other candidates won us a huge platform to educate others on what was going on in the community, and it was out of these conversations that Mayor McGinn surfaced as a favored pick among young voters. It is the presence of this new mayor which has eventually lead to the space for transparency in the YVPI, as well as for new leadership to emerge from the community. We should not forget or downplay this victory, even if it did take some time, but we should also strive to mobilize quicker, stronger, and more effectively next time by taking key lessons from what went down in our own backyard:

1) Be proactive in creating and/or contributing to the growth of institutional alternatives to the status quo. (Instead of trying to use the master’s tools to dismantle the plantation. This applies to the dying music industry & corporate media model as well as activism and youth service.)

2) Leverage the political process by running our own Hip Hop candidates who will put our issues and interests into the forefront. (Instead of raking up election year funding by remaining operatives for existing political parties.)

3) Keep building Hip Hop as an effective medium for community education and mobilization. (Think unionizing teaching artists and Hip Hop youth service workers, building coalitions between our businesses, collectives, and organizations, and creating “rapid response” networks on youth policy issues among our independent media outlets.)

Hip Hop is a vast & powerful network. We should not shy away from being active in changing the world from the ground up. The above is only one example of the small atrocities committed daily, and the role our community of cultural producers can and needs to play in intervening and recreating. Even here in our seemingly isolated, burgeoning scene, we are a part of a larger movement with larger aspirations, and there are many reminders of this. (Take our comrades in the Hip Hop communities of North Africa for example). There’s a lot of answers to the question “How Can Hip Hop Save the World?”, but the most important answer is in the alignment of all our efforts and the clarity of our collective vision.

Skratch Lounge

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Thursday, March 3, 2011

Groove Techs Present:
Skratch Lounge
Open Skratch Cypher
Showcase by DJ Tre
Skratch Panel

Trinity Nightclub
111 Yesler Way, Seattle
7:30pm – 21+ – Free

206 Zulu 7th Anniversary

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206 Zulu 7th Anniversary
February 18-20, 2011

FRI 18
Seattle Youth Arts & Resources Fair
@ The Vera Project (Seattle Center)
10am-2pm

Zulu Jam @ Washington Hall
Cyphers, Live Art, Writer’s Bench
Performance by the legendary Percee P
and Special Guests!
153 14th Ave
9pm

SAT 19
Octogon World Rumble
1-on-1 Battles: Flight & Prizes
Cyphers / Performances
w/ Alien Ness, Trac2, Fever One & Guests!
DJ’s Soul One, Tecumseh, Sureal
@ Cirque Events Center
131 Taylor Ave
6pm

SUN 20
Skratch Lounge 
Youth Workshop 
Q&A Scratch Session
@ Rock Paper Scissors
1318 E Pike St
2-6pm

All Events are all ages and free!
Info: www.206zulu.com

OurStory
206 Zulu Anniversary Home

Black Stax – I Love My Life

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Seattle, WA / February 15, 2011 – Black Stax, whose debut album, ‘Talking Buildings’ was released last month on iTunes, today releases their first music video for the single, ‘I Love My Life,’ which celebrates life, gives appreciation to heritage and demonstrates the positive, home-grown vibe of Black Stax and this urban and soul influenced song.

‘We transformed a space use for welding and made it into a family BBQ. Literally. Added some cameras, lighting, good friends and some talented people and walked away with a music video,’ says Jace of Black Stax.

The music video is directed and edited by Seattle’s Chris Parker and was shot in the industrial and artsy Georgetown neighborhood.

”I Love My Life’ is about making the most of every day and recognizing those that came before you. We are huge on family and were able to share the experience of recording our first music video with those who mean the most to us. We hope everyone likes the result!,’ added Felicia Loud of Black Stax who is the main feature of the video.

Under 1 Nation: Zulu & Krip-Hop

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Under 1 Nation: Zulu & Krip-Hop

The ASUW Student Disability Commission is excited to announce a few FREE events featuring Leroy Moore and Krip-Hop Nation:

Friday, February 10th, 5PM-7PM
Broken Bodies, PBP: Police Brutality Profiling
… University of Washington, OUGL (Odegaard Undergraduate Library), Room 220

This workshop will talk about POOR Magazine and its connection to the issue of police brutality in the disability community featuring Leroy Moore. Police brutality in the disabled community will be discussed as well as how Hip-Hop artists use their talents in cases of police brutality. Leroy will also discuss the origins of Krip Hop Nation and talk about current projects and activism opportunities. There will be audio and visual cases by Hip Hop artists with disabilities and participants will have the option to do an exercise based on these cases.

Saturday, February 11th, 5PM-9PM
Under 1 Nation: Zulu & Krip-Hop
University of Washington, Kane Hall, Walker-Ames Room

This a multimedia presentation featuring Hip-Hop performances by artists with disabilities including Leroy Moore and King Khazm. Using Hip-Hop as a cultural platform, police brutality and profiling within the disability community will be discussed as well as the justice system’s relationship to the Black and disability community. This presentation will feature music, audio, and film presentations as well as a panel discussion.

This is an Accessible & Scent/Fragrance-Free event. For more information on how to be scent-free, check out: http://www.peggymunson.com/mcs/fragrancefree.html.

For other access requirements, please contact the Disability Services Office at: 206.543.6450/V, 206.543.6452/TTY, 206.685.7264 (FAX), or email dso@u.washington.edu

Co-sponsors: ASUW Black Student Commission, ASUW Queer Student Commission, AccessSTEM
Supporters: Disability Advocacy Student Alliance (DASA), Rainy Dawg Radio, ASUW Arts & Entertainment

Mighty 4 Portland

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Mighty 4 in Portland
Saturday, February 5th

45th Parallel Zulus presents:
Mighty 4 in Portland
-5 on 5 Bboy/Bgirl Battle
$500 prize for winners

-Judges
Paulskee (Rock Force Crew)
Orb (Circle Of Fire/ Soul Shifters)
Thesis (Knuckleheads Cali)

-DJs
Tecumseh (206 Zulu)
Sureal (206 Zulu)

-Popping showcase
New Lineage (BopNTodd, Donnamation, Icon)
Einstein (45th Parallel Zulu)

-MC performances
Orbitron
Theory Hazit

-Live art
Kauz Roc

6-10pm $15/Kids 12 & under Free – All Ages

To register your crew for the Bboy/Bgirl battle contact:
Levi “Uneak”: (503) 890-4954
lbanner@oregonuniversal.org

Salmon Street Studios
109 SE Salmon st.
Portland, OR

Skratch Lounge

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Thursday, February 3, 2011

Groove Techs Present:
Skratch Lounge
Open Skratch Cypher
Showcase by DJ Flave
Skratch Panel

Trinity Nightclub
111 Yesler Way, Seattle
7:30pm – 21+ – Free

9th Annual Hip-Hop 4 The Homeless Benefit Weekend

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The 9th Annual Hip-Hop 4 The Homeless Weekend is all about YOU and the ways in which you can serve your community and make it a better place. Last year we raised more than $5,000 in goods/services/resources for our community members in need… You never know – it could be me or you one day. LIVE PERFORMANCES BY: Afrok, XP aka Xperience, Collective Love Unlimited, Josh Rizeberg, Night Fox, Hollywood Kill Krew, Never Sleep (Double B & Dan Fajans), Sista Hailstorm of The 206 Zulu Nation and yours truly – LUVVA J. Spoken word & DJ Turtledove on the 1s and 2s… More to come!

Donations of Food, Clothes, Tents, Sleeping bags, Blankets, socks, jackets and more or $5.00 cover.

Food, Beverages and Merchandise from the artists for sale!

Organizations will be tabling!

Remember, on Sunday, January 30th, with resources we collect at the show and support from our sponsors we open the space all day Sunday for folks to hang out, get clothes, a warm meal, haircuts, and massages.

If you are interested in volunteering on Saturday or Sunday contact Hilary at hiphop4thehomess@gmail.com!

After Party hosted by King Pulse at the Sampan Lounge at 922 Hensley & Martin Way, Lacey WA!

The Loft on Cherry
525 Cherry Street
Olympia, WA

6-11:30pm – Donations – All Ages

206 Zulu Productions

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2005
February 17-20 – 206 Zulu 1st Anniversary
May 15-21 – Hip Hop Appreciation Week
June 2005 – 2008 – EMP Yes, Yes, Yall
June 12 – Urban Arts Fest

2006
February 17-19 – 206 Zulu 2nd Anniversary 
April 22 – Zulu Jam at Zaina
June 9 – Give & Take
October 6 – Free Fall 2006
November 17-19 – Back To It’s Roots
December 2 – 206 Zulu at Wenachee Community College

2007
January 18 – Panel at Seattle Central Community College
February 15-18 – 206 Zulu 3rd Anniversary
February 28 – 206 Zulu at Highline Community College
March 4 – Ursula Rucker
March 30 – 206 Zulu at SBOC Middle School
April 1 – Live Hip Hop and Breakin
April 28 – Massive Monkees Day 2007
May 11 – Across Da Worlds
May 12 – Cypha ’07
May 13 – Zulu Jam at See Sound Lounge
May 18 – 206 Zulu at Downtown Seattle Library
May 20 – Zulu Jam at See Sound Lounge
May 27 – Zulu Jam at See Sound Lounge
May 31 – 206 Zulu at Garfield High School
June 1 – A Benefit to Fight for Rajnii Eddins
June 3 – Zulu Jam at See Sound Lounge
June 10 – Zulu Jam at See Sound Lounge
June 17 – Zulu Jam at See Sound Lounge
June 22 –  Zulu Rewers
June 23 – Dope Emporium
June 24 – Urban Art Festival
June 24 – Zulu Jam at See Sound Lounge
July 19 – Home Grown
August 3-5 – Umoja Fest
August 4 – NW Hip Hop Parade Troop
August 11 – 2nd Annual Hip-Nic
September 15 – Harambee Block Party
September 29 – Zulu Jam w/ The Elefaders
October 6 – Free Fall 2007
October 24 – Zulu Jam w/ The Elefaders
November 13 – 206 Zulu at Willamette University
November 14-15 – 206 Zulu at Mercer Island Boys & Girls Club
November 16 – 206 Zulu Assembly at Meany Middle School
November 16 – 206 Zulu Assembly at Meany Middle School
November 17 – Zulu Radio Live
November 13 – 206 Zulu at Willamette University
November 30 – 206 Zulu at Wahluke High
November 30 – Northstar Zulus
December 1 – Mighty 4 Seattle
December 6 – Shoreline College Diversity Summit
December 21 – 206 Zulu Dance at Meany Middle School
December 22 – Zulu Jam w/ Guerilla Queen

2008
January 5 – Zulu Jam w/ Luvva-J & WD4D
January 19 – Zulu Jam w/ Tecumseh & Audeos
January 19 – Inay OG II
January 23 – Water
February 14 – dead prez
February 15-17 – 206 Zulu 4th Anniversary
February 27 – Water 2
March 1 – Zulu Jam w/ Sean Malik
March 13 – Style Out
March 15 – Zulu Jam w/ The Elefaders
March 22 – Zulu Jam w/ Rob Nice
April 5 – Zulu Jam w/ The Elefaders
April 15 – Planet B-Boy
April 19 – Zulu Jam w/ Madplanet, Dazeroc & Sha
April 26 – Seattle Black Panther Party 40th Anniversary
April 26 – Unite 4 Youth at Garfield High School
May 1 – 206 Zulu at May 1st Immigrants Rights March
May 3 – Massive Monkees Day 2008
May 8 – Infinity Night
May 10 – Skills Defined V
May 24 – Zulu Jam at NW Folklife Festival
May 30 – 206 Zulu at Rainier Beach High School
June 19 – Qwel
June 24 – Dope Emporium
July 10 – Infinity Night
July 18 – 509 Zulu Jam
July 26 – Summer Nights
July 27 – 509 Freestyle Battle
August 1-3 – Umoja Fest
August 2 – NW Hip Hop Parade Troop
August 8 – DMC West Coast Finals
September 5 – Zulu Jam at Nectar
September 5 – The Cost of Living
October 10 – Yo Mama
October 17 – Break From Violence
October 18 – Freefall ’08
October 25-26 – Arts Gumbo
November 15 – KBCS 91.3 FM 35th B-Day
November 17 – 206 Zulu Assembly at Center School
November 26 – 206 Zulu Assembly at South Lake High School
December 8 – 206 Zulu panel at Diversity Conference

2009
February 10 – 206 Zulu at Maple Lane School
February 13-16 – 206 Zulu 5th Anniversary
February 26-27 – 2009 Hip Hop Summit
February 28 – Face Laces ’09
March 4 – The Peace Project
April 17 – Fresh Flava
April 25 – Zulu Jam w/ Sean Malik
May 30 – Zulu Jam w/ DJ Able
May 24 – Zulu Jam at NW Folklife 
June 5 – 4th Annual Youth Celebration
June 5 – Fresh Flava
June 11 – All4Sho & A Show For All
June 27 – Zulu Jam w/ WD4D
June 27 – Orcas Island Summer Hip Hop Festival
July 7 – Stay Free
August 10 – Party Revolutionary
November 1 – Dia De Los Meurtos
December 20 – 2X4 Northwest

2010
February 12-14 – 206 Zulu 6th Anniversary
February 17 – 206 Zulu at Green Hill School
May 28 – Massive Monkees Day 2010
May 30 – Zulu Jam at NW Folklife
June 5 – Battle Cry
June 11 – Cypha 10
June 12 – Zulu Jam at Festival Sundiata
August 5 – Equinox
August 14 – MAD Krew 15th Anniversary
August 22 – Stas & Cat’s Going Away Party
August 29 – Off The Wall
October 14 – Life Celebration of TalkSick
November 2-19 – Dia de los Muertos
November 1-30 – 206 Zulu Can Food Drive

2011
February 3 – Skratch Lounge
February 18-20 – 206 Zulu 7th Anniversary
March 3 – Skratch Lounge
March 13 – H206
April 7 – Skratch Lounge 1st Anniversary
April 23 – Massive Monkees Day 2011
May 27 – Zulu Jam
May 29 – Zulu Jam at NW Folklife Festival
June 2 – Skratch Lounge
June 24 – Zulu Jam
June 26 – The Station 1 Year Anniversary
July 9 – Skills Defined 8
July 7 – Skratch Lounge
July 7 – The Jackson Street Music History Project
July 29 – Zulu Jam
August 4 – Skratch Lounge
August 26 – Zulu Jam
August 28 – Off The Wall
October 6 – Skratch Lounge
October 28 – Zulu Jam Halloween Edition
November 1-30 – Hip Hop History Month 2011
November 1 – Each One Feed One
November 3 – Skratch Lounge
November 5 – Zulu Jam at Children’s Hospital
November 9 – KRS-One
November 12 – Vursatyl
November 14 – The Town
November 17 – Zulu Jam at KC Juvenile Detention Center
November 18 – Rise & Decolonize
November 21 – Hip Hop in the Academic Context
November 25 – Zulu Jam
December 1 – Skratch Lounge

2012
February 2 – Skratch Lounge
February 17-19 – 206 Zulu 8th Anniversary
March 1 – Skratch Lounge
March 30 – Zulu Jam Malika Edition
April 19 – 206 Zulu at KC Juvenile Detention
April 20 – 206 Zulu showcase in Spokane
April 21 – Massive Monkees Day 2012
April 27 – Zulu Jam Asian Hip Hop Summit
May 1 – Rise & Decolonize May Day
May 3 – Skratch Lounge
May 25 – Zulu Jam Skratch Lounge Edition
May 27 – Zulu Jam at NW Folklife Festival
June 7 – Skratch Lounge
June 8 – Conscious Culture Festival
June 29 – Zulu Jam Graff Edition
July 7 – The Jackson Street Park Jam
July 27 – Zulu Jam Producer’s Edition
August 1 – Zulu Jam Ragga Edition
August 2 – Skratch Lounge
August 11 – Queen vs Queen 2012
September 26 – Zulu Jam Back to School Edition
October 4 – Skratch Lounge
October 26 – Zulu Jam Halloween Edition
November 1 – Hip Hop History Month Kick-Off
November 1 – Skratch Lounge
November 8 – The Katalyst Kick-Off Party
November 10 – Reign Supreme
November 30 – I Live This
November 30 – Zulu Jam Hip Hop History Month Edition
December 6 – Skratch Lounge
December 14 – Siren’s Echo

2013
January 18 – Extreme 2013
February 15-17 – 206 Zulu 9th Anniversary
March 7 – Skratch Lounge
March 29 – Zulu Jam Malika Edition
April 13 – Massive Monkees Day 2013
April 26 – The 4th Annual UW Hip Hop Summit
April 26 – Zulu Jam True School Edition
May 17 – Hip Hop Summit
May 18 – Freestyle Session Seattle
May 19 – Keep The Beacon Lit
May 26 – Prince vs Prince
May 31 – Zulu Jam Skratch Lounge Edition
June 6 – Skratch Lounge
June 28 – 2nd Annual Zulu Jam Producer’s Edition
July 11 – Skratch Lounge
July 26 – Zulu Jam Graff Edition
July 27-28 – Boogie Up The Block
July 28 – Queen vs Queen 2013
August 1 – Skratch Lounge
August 12-30 – Dance Classes w. B-Girl Bean & B-Boy Pele
August 31 – Back to School Jam
September 5 – Skratch Lounge
September 17 – HistoryLunch 2013
October 3 – Skratch Lounge
November 7 – Skratch Lounge
November 16 – Food For Thought
November 29 – Zulu Jam Hip Hop History Month Edition
December 5 – Skratch Lounge
December 6-7 – Reign Supreme

2014
January 18 – The Before Party
January 18 – Zulu Jam Hip Hop Elements
January 25 – Hip Hop 4 The Homeless
February 1 – The Voice of a Gentrified Seattle
February 8 – Rascal Love
February 14-16 – 206 Zulu 10th Anniversary
March 6 – Skratch Lounge
March 8 – Sweet 16
April 10 – 2014 DMC Seattle
April 13 – 206 Zulu Community Orientation
April 19 – Massive Monkees 2014
April 24-26 – Women Who Rock
May 26 – Prince vs Prince
June 27 – 3rd Annual Zulu Jam Producer’s Edition
June 28 – Zulu Jam at Hing Hay Park
July 10 – Masta Ace
July 21 – Zulu Jam at Hing Hay Park
September 26 – Zulu Radio Live!
October 31 – Zulu Jam Halloween Edition
November 1 – Breakin’ 30th Anniversary Screening
November 22 – Break In The Sound
November 28 – Hip Hop History Month Celebration

2015
January 24 – Hip Hop 4 The Homeless
January 31 – Break In The Sound
February 6-8 – 206 Zulu 11th Anniversary
March 22 – 206 Zulu Community Outreach / Orientation
April 2 – Skratch Lounge 5th Anniversary
April 25 – Massive Monkees Day 2015
May 22-25 – NW Folklife Festival
May 24 – Prince vs Prince
May 25 – Queen of the Hill
May 30 – Live Your Anthem
June 19 – United Hood March
June 19 – Juneteenth Voter Education Candidate Forum
June 21 – Go Skate Day!
July 31 – Zulu Jam at Hot Spot
August 22 – 4th Annual Beat Masters
September 26 – Jam For Justice
September 26 – Zulu Radio 10th Anniversary
October 15 – 206 Zulu Community Outreach / Orientation
November 1-31 – Hip Hop History Month 2015
November 1 – MAD Krew 20th Anniversary
November 1 – Krush Groove 30th Anniversary Screening
November 2 – Kurtis Blow at Seattle Central
November 2-6 – Know the Ledge
November 20 – Wild Style
November 21 – Filthy Fingers United 2nd Anniversary
November 25 – The Cuts

2016
January 9 – Battle of Burien
January 13 – Franklin High School Diversity Summit
February 6 – BYC 15th Anniversary
February 20 – 206 Zulu 12th Anniversary
March 13 – 206 Zulu Community Orientation
April 23 – Massive Monkees Day 2016
May 13 – Mecha 20th anniversary “Nouche de Cultura”
May 29 – Queen of the Hill @ NW Folklife Festival
May 29 – Coolout 25 @ NW Folklife Festival
May 29 – Prince vs Prince
June 1 – Grand Re-Opening of Washington Hall
June 10 – Jazz Intoxication
June 17-18 – King Khazm “Diaries of a MAD”
June 25 – Zulu Park Jam
June 30 – Envisioning our Future Green River Community College
July 15 – 5th Annual Beat Masters
July 30 – Keep it Fresh
July 31 – Zulu Park Jam
August 19 – Fish-N-Chips
August 27 – Zulu Park Jam
September 16-18 – Seattle Black Panther Party Film Festival & Forum
September 25 – Assembly at Denny Middle School
October 13 – Community Dance Party
November 5 – Breakin’ 2 Screening
November 7 – 206 Zulu at Chief Sealth High School
November 7 – The King of Crenshaw
November 14 – 206 Zulu at Ballard High School
November 16 – Our Pitch Competition

2017
January 21 – Battle of Burien
January 27 – Youth Speaks Slam
February 2 – Open House
February 11 – Women Who Rock
February 13 – NoDAPL: Community Gathering with Chase Iron Eyes
February 18 – 206 Zulu 13th Anniversary
February 25 – Home Is Where the Heart Is
February 26 – Black Futures: Africatown Community Brunch
March 18 – One Vibe Conversation
March 25 – Viva Vera Gala 2017
April 1 – The Best Coast Art Show
April 2 – Launch Party: Nikkita Oliver for Mayor
April 15 – NW Sweet 16 10th Anniversary
April 20 – The Residency
April 22 – 206 Zulu Youth Ambassadors Retreat
April 27 – Open Studios
May 4 – May the Fourth
May 6 – Seattle House Dance Project
May 11 – Zulu Jam at Upstream Festival
May 23 – OAC Create City
May 29 – Prince vs Prince 2017
May 29 – Queen of the Hill 2017
June 1 – El Centro de la Raza Graduation
June 4 – Families of Color
June 24 – Zulu Park Jam
July 7 – Voting While Black
July 15 – 6th Annual Beat Masters
July 29 – What’s Poppin’ Ladies?!
August 5 – Fish-N-Chips
August 4 – Battle of the Species
August 5 – Circle of Fire 20th Anniversary
August 19 – Boogie Up The Block
August 19 – Off The Wall 2017
August 19 – Visions Fest 2017
August 23 – Creative Justice
August 26 – Zulu Park Jam
September 12 – Infinity Night
October 14 – Unity in Community
October 17 – Africatown Voter Education Forum
October 31 – Zulu Jam Halloween Edition
November 4 – 206 Gala
November 4 – Hip Hop History Month Kick-Off
November 25 – Coolout Lounge
December 22 – Break Wars

2018
January 13 – Fear No Evil
February 10 – Night Shift Silent Disco
February 17 – 206 Zulu 14th Anniversary
February 18 – Crack The Flow
February 24 – King Khazm’s 40th
March 10 – Viva Vera 2018
March 17 – U-God
March 24 – Sweet 16
April 20-22 – Massive Monkees Day 2018
April 26-29 – Seattle Black Panther Party 50th Anniversary
April 27 – The Legacy: A Hip Hop Odyssey
May 27 – Queen of the Hill
July 15 – Shifty Reflex Rumble
July 28-29 – 7th Annual Beat Masters
August 18 – Off The Wall 2018
August 18 – Boogie Up The Block 2018
August 25 – Fish-N-Chips All Styles Dance Battle
September – Pop-Up Mini Breaks
September 22 – Seattle Children’s Festival
September 28 – Who’s Got the Moves?
October 19 – City of Music Open Mic
November 1-31 – Hip Hop History Month 2018
November 3 – Hip Hop History Month Kick-Off 2018
November 3 – 206 Gala
November 10 – Black Panthers Party Youth Empowerment Summit
November 10 – Bobby Seale, Live in Community

2019
February 1 – Kitchen Sessions
February 15-17 – 206 Zulu 15th Anniversary
February 18 – Movin’ Around the World
February 21 – Seattle Asian American Film Festival
April 3 – Beats to the Rhyme Showcase
April 10 – Soul One Forever
May 27 – Break Wars: Battle For Folklife
July 7 – Beats For Ballots
July 13 – 8th Annual Beat Masters
July 27 – The Bridge
August 17 – Off The Wall 2019
September 14 – Youth Rising in the Town
September 19 – eMerge
September 22 – Come Dance With 206 Zulu
October 3 – We The People
October 21 – Cultural Congress 
November 2 – Hip Hop History Month Kick-Off
November 23 – The Coolout Legacy
November 23 – Seattle Hip Hop Film Festival 2019
December 6-7 – Unseen Cualtzin 
December 13 – Winter Magic 2019
December 13 – Our Hip-Hop Heritage
December 21 – 3rd Annual Central District Reunion
December 28 – End of the Decade Party
December 29 –The Chanukah Party III
2020
January 18 – Battle of Burien 2020
January 20 – Hip Hop & Activism at MLK Day
January 25 – The Future Ancient Lunar New Year’s Party
February 14-16 – 206 Zulu 16th Anniversary
February 19 – 16 Bars Film Screening & Discussion
March 8 – The Power of Rage
May 25 – June 22 – 9th Annual Beat Masters
June 5 – Equity Now! Rally & Teach In
June 21 – Festival Sundiata 40th Anniversary
August 29 – Off The Wall 2020
September 19 – What is Documentary in This Moment?
November 6 – Emerald Street: A History of Hip Hop in Seattle
November 12 – NEWCOMER: A Seattle Hip-Hop Mixtape
November 17 – MoPOP Takeover ft. I Am Chamel
November 27 – Black Friday Pop Up Market
December 10 – Meeting of the Minds – Zulu Radio 15 Tribute Show
December 19 – Toys For Kids Day

2021
January 9 – Meeting of the Minds – Always Remembered 2020
February 6 – Project Blowed 26 Screening
February 12 – Pangea: Hip Hop Heals Release & Artist Discussion
February 13 – 206 Zulu 17th Anniversary
February 24 – Wax on Wednesdays w/ Supreme La Rock
February 25 – Keep Music Live Green Room Sessions: Celebrating Black History Month
April 3 – Coolout 30th Anniversary Special
May 14 – Covid Pop-Up
May 29 – Cypher Queenz at NW Folklife
May 30 – Building From Here: Arts and Culture in the Pacific Northwest
June 11 – Covid Pop-Up
July 6 – Covid Pop-Up
July 23-24 – 10th Annual Beat Masters
August 1 – Pista Sa Nayon 2021
August 4 – Meeting of the Minds ft. Asia One
August 7 – The Seattle Lowrider Block Party
August 18 – Meeting of the Minds ft. Emile YX?
August 22 – MADK 25 / Off The Wall 2021
September 1 – Meeting of the Minds ft. Cros1
September 15 – Meeting of the Minds ft. Hope Solo
September 29 – Meeting of the Minds ft. Billy X Jennings
September 3-6 – Massive Monkees Day 2021
October 20 – Meeting of the Minds ft. Aaron Dixon
November 1-30 – Artifakts Pop-Up Shop
November 3 – Meeting of the Minds ft. Easy AD
November 17 – Meeting of the Minds ft. Joe Conzo, Jr.
November 26 – Toys For Kids Day
November 27 – Celebrating the Life & Legacy of DJ Luvva J
November 28 – Seattle Hip Hop Film Festival 2021
December 4 – Cypher Queenz

2022
January 10 – Meeting of the Minds – Always Remembered 2021
January 20 – Love at First Beat: Intro to Hip Hop DJing
January 22 – Cypher Queenz
January 27 – Get Boosted
February 17 – Meeting of the Minds ft. Kitty Wu
February 20 – Cypher Queenz
March 13 – Cypher Queenz
April 10 – Cypher Queenz
May 5 – Red Bull BC One Local Hero Tour
May 28-30 – Live Graffiti Art in the Maker’s Space
May 30 – Spin Masters
June 18-19 – 206 Zulu 18th Anniversary
June 18 – Meeting of the Minds ft. Miss Casey Carter, Khrysis, Supreme La Rock
July 30 – 11th Annual Beat Masters
August 20 – Off The Wall
August 21 – Grandwizzard Theodore
November 5 – Seattle Hip Hop Film Festival 2022
November 17 – D’Vonne Lewis 4Tet, Thomas Marriott & Friends
December 17 – 3rd Annual Toys For Kids Day

2023
February 18 – The Comedy Shop ft. Speedy
March 18-25 – DISPERSED: The Women of Region Six
April 22 – The Comedy Shop ft. Kool Bubba Ice
May 6 – Open Mic Night
May 29 – Battle For Folklife
June 10 – Art Battle Seattle
June 11 – Mambo 2 Hip Hop
June 15 – Black Arts Legacies Celebration
June 19 – Freedom Flows
July 15 – The Comedy Shop
July 30 – 12th Annual Beat Masters
August 1-31 – 2023 Summer Residency
August 12 – Hip Hop 50
September 9 – 13th Annual Off The Wall
September 20 – Here & Now Project
October 18 – Here & Now Project
October 28 – Art Battle Seattle
November 4 – Seattle Hip Hop Film Festival 2023
November 11 – Hip Hop History Month at MoPOP
November 17 – We See You: Da Village For Palestine
December 2 – DYVAS Zine Release Party
December 12 – Youth Speak
December 23 – 4th Annual Toys For Kids Day

2024
January 10 – Event Fresh
January 17 – Here & Now Project
February 15-19 – 206 Zulu 20th Anniversary
April 14 – Benefit For Kindu Shabazz
April 21 – Dance For Falasteen
April 24 – Elevate Open Mic
November 2 – Seattle Hip Hop Film Festival 2024

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