Where Hip Hop Lives

The show was written and produced by Paul Grigsby. Grigsby is the founder of Art as an Agent for Change. Other notary members of the group are Odinaka Ezeokoli, Jamie Flemming, Karla White and Tavias Bennet.

Early last month, the group put on a different type of show. It was a Poetry Slam inspired by "A Lesson Before Dying," a novel written by Ernest J. Gaines. This was just one of the many productions and events put on by the organization.

"Where Hip Hop Lives", was presented as a 'poetical.'?
"Think musical but with poetry," said Grigsby.
This is an original idea, the first time such a play has been performed at GCSU.

The play was not only performed here at GCSU, but also at the Central Library and Library System Headquarters in Atlanta. Two days later, it was presented at the Max Noah Recital Hall.

The play engaged its audience. It used pop culture references throughout, and was set in radio stations in Milledgeville. It was mostly composed of radio interviews, conflict with the disc jockeys and poems related to the conflict.

The play almost resembled allegory. The Big Boss Man, "Irv" represented the monopolization of the media through corporations like Clear Channel or Radio One. His presence controlled the two radio stations, both claiming to be "where hip hop lives" and "the number one for hip hop in the city." ?He not only restricted new or underground tracks from being played, but he also forced disc jockeys to do things they were against such as marketing guns and dating rappers.

Through the course of the play, a mysterious character appeared several times to deliver a message in the form of a poem. As a radio caller, he reported that hip hop had lost its way and that it cannot live in any radio station or area,?but it must live in all of us. The message was not lost in the audience.

Patrons of the show seemed to enjoy it very much.

"I found it amusing. It was not contemporary art, it was not my type of thing, but I appreciated how they felt about it [hip-hop]," freshman education major Jessica Smith said.

It may have been assumed that because the play was more reared towards those who enjoy hip hop and rap music, people who listen to other types of music would not enjoy it. That was not the case. Smith stated that rock music was more in her taste, and yet she enjoyed the play.

"I thought there should have been more actors, but I like the use of poetry instead of music. I like the plot of the play and the theme," freshman history major Julia Halett said.

Many students left surprised at the play. It was not what most people expected. Rather than an elaborate set, expensive costumes and a mile long list of actors, it was a three man play that delivered a message in a form people were not used to, but grew to like.

"It was not only entertaining, but it was incredibly funny. I think the school should do more plays like this, in fact, I'd like to see more plays like this from the AAC," said Hallett.

Keep an eye out for more events hosted by the AAC. You can join the group on Facebook, or contact any of the members.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Nov 21 2008. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry