HIP HOP FOR HUNGER
Thu, Dec 18
Manhattan Nightclub (10345-105 St.)

In no Canadian city does rock hold a position of greater power than in Edmonton. At times, even the city’s traffic and construction rhythms seem to mimic the low-slung swagger of garage rock and the guitar-on-guitar industriousness of hardcore punk.

While Edmonton’s reputation as a rock ’n’ roll town is well deserved, there is a core of young performers and promoters who are striving to open Edmonton’s ear to the fertile hip-hop scene that is developing in our midst. Though it has yet to draw its fair share of national media attention, the Edmonton hip-hop community is not content to simply fill clubs, and, as a result, is staging an event that they hope will fill something else as well–the stomachs of underprivileged Edmontonians this holiday season.

Last year’s Hip Hop For Hunger (held at the now extinct Rev Cabaret) was a resounding success, raising 170kg of food donations in just one evening. On the strength of this showing, the event’s organizers have decided to make it an annual affair. This year, the venue has shifted to the Manhattan Club, and event organizers are confident they’ll be able to bring in twice as many donations as last year. "The support we got last year was tremendous," says event organizer Arlo Maverick, of Edmonton’s hip-hop label, Music For Mavericks Entertainment. The label is home to Politic Live, an Edmonton-based group that has been getting heads nodding on the strength of their debut album, Notoriety. Also on the bill is another crew of local artists, Darkson Tribe. Both groups have displayed a strong commitment to community outreach and a penchant for fostering Edmonton’s nascent urban music scene. In particular, Darkson Tribe has worked with Forbes Youth Support, an agency that assists troubled teens.

Winnipeg’s Bonafide collective will also appear at Hip Hop For Hunger. Winnipeg’s scene has been garnering considerable media attention, and Maverick is enthusiastic about Edmonton’s ability to do the same. "We’ve been out there four times," he says, "their scene is very much like ours, but there’s more unity within it." When asked what Edmonton needs to do to ensure hip-hop prosperity, Maverick’s advice is pragmatic: "We need to start working with each other more, and communicating with the media," he says, "and if we do that we may see a situation where there will be a video on MuchMusic by an Edmonton group."

Since this is only the second annual Hip Hop For Hunger event, Edmonton show-goers might be unclear about what to expect. This year’s evening features live performances by groups Darkson Tribe, Politic Live, and Bonafide, with Flava Entertainment DJs Shortround and Echo on hand to spin beats between the sets. Last year the two DJs pooled their night’s earnings and gave the Food Bank an additional and very welcome injection of cash. Hip Hop For Hunger attendees are advised to bring non-perishable donations for the Edmonton Food Bank. Admission is $6 with a donation, and $8 without. The event will also feature an eight MC freestyle elimination battle, and the first 100 show-goers to arrive will be entered into a draw for a DVD player. "The MC battle is going to be phenomenal," says Maverick: "it will be a true battle of charisma, will, and wit."