Hip-Hop Congress NIU sponsored its first concert Friday night.

“Live on Arrival: Congressional Streets of Hip-Hop” featured local hip-hop artists The Kitchen, Past Due (the team of rappers Phathom and Chief), Ill Legit and Neandathal.

The event, which took place in the Stevenson Towers, was headlined by Sam I Am, NIU graduate Samuel Simmons II.

Simmons, who graduated with a degree in media studies in May 2005, expressed support for the overall mission of the organization.

“It’s good to see they’re keeping the hip-hop alive, not letting it die, and I gotta support that,” Simmons said. Earlier this year, Simmons won Rhyme Spitters IV, an annual emcee-battle freestyle tournament in Chicago.

The event also featured a professional break-dancing troupe, live graffitiing and photography, bringing together what the organization’s president Chetra Gnet called the elements of hip-hop.

“Our point is to unify those interested in hip-hop,” Gnet said. “There are many elements of hip hop, but we focus on four: DJ, graffiti, emceeing and breaking.”

Open mic opportunities were available. Nimit Shah, a senior math education major, read a poem about having pride in one’s heritage in the face of prejudice.
Gnet said the organization’s members were “ecstatic” about the event’s success.

“We were able to bring in many diverse people of different backgrounds and culture, all because we all share a common bond: The passion and love for hip-hop culture,” Gnet said. “There was more attendance than expected. It was a great turnout.”

According to their MySpace page, Hip-Hop Congress NIU is “an organization geared towards promoting hip hop as a culture.”

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