Expand your knowledge and learn about hip hop’s rich history and global cultural currency with these informal talks with food and friends.
Overview
Welcome to the Hart House Hip Hop 101 Café. Whether you’re a sneakerhead or a novice, an emerging fan or an old school expert, we’ve got a hip hop conversation for you!
Hip Hop 101 Café is a space created for students to come together and explore how hip hop infuses all parts of our everyday culture. Peer- and community-led conversations in this space will leave you with a deeper appreciation of a shared community and a greater understanding of how hip hop culture continues to influence our world.
Everyone is welcome. Bring a friend and drop by the Hart House Hip Hop 101 Café in the Map Room. Refreshments will be served.
Topics we will explore through the Hip Hop 101 Café series:
- The Evolution of Hip Hop: Then, Now, Next
- Hip Hop through an Indigenous Lens
- Hip Hop, Women and Gender Dynamics:
- Hip Hop and Criminal Justice
- The Economics of Hip Hop
- Hip Hop, Faith and Spirituality
Socialize, get down, and let your soul lead the way.
Afrika Bambaataa
For this session:
Hip hop started as a movement dedicated to peace, community and understanding. It is an artistic practice that was, by original design, supposed to be equitable and inclusive.
From the very early days of hip hop, women have been participants and practitioners of the art. Roxanne Shanté, the Queen of Rap, released her first hit single in 1984. Queen Latifa and Monie Love were putting "Ladies First" since 1989. B-girls like Baby Love innovated on the dancefloor, and Lady Pink had her celebrated graffiti art all over NYC.
But why haven't more women been acclaimed and celebrated in the same manner as the men?
A critical eye can see how negative systemic forces have held back some of the brightest voices and creative talents of hip hop culture. Women and gender non-conforming artists have been battling, not only MCs on the mic and break-dancers in the cypher, but sexism, hegemonic masculinity, and industry-wide biases that have created far too many barriers towards greater success.
Join us as we discuss some of the issues facing women in hip hop, and unpack the subjects surrounding gender, feminist perspectives, and artistic representation.
Special Guest Facilitator
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Eternia
Hip Hop Artist
Two-time Juno-nominated and widely considered one of Canada’s foremost Hip Hop lyricists, Eternia continues to knock down barriers and trail-blaze across the globe for Canadian Hip-Hop music.
Eternia has toured extensively in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Australia, & Europe; those that are lucky enough to catch her on stage credit her as one of the best live performers they have witnessed. She has been billed with superstars such as Nas, Kendrick Lamar, Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, Kanye West, Mos Def & Talib Kweli, Wu-Tang Clan, Missy, Snoop Dogg, MC Lyte, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Black Thought, Shad, Jully Black & many more.
In 2010, Eternia released her 5th full-length recording on Fat Beats Records with “DJ Premier affiliated Canadian super-producer MoSS” (NOW Magazine). The Juno-nominated “AT LAST” (her second Juno nod, the first for “It’s Called Life” in 2006) was met with critical acclaim, featured guest appearances by some of Hip Hop’s elite: Ras Kass, Rah Digga, Lady of Rage, Jean Grae, Joell Ortiz, Maestro Fresh Wes & more, was long-listed for a Polaris Prize and was named one of the Top 25 Albums of 2010 by the legendary DJ Premier of Gang Starr.
Since “AT LAST” Eternia has solidified her standing with a slew of buzz-worthy collaborations, music videos, and singles: “Love Means” on Shad’s Flying Colours (2013), “Final Offering” - a highly publicized Kendrick Lamar tribute (2014), “Each Other” on industry favourite Apollo Brown’s Grandeur (2015), “Day & Night” (2015), “Keep U” produced by Apathy (2016), “For This Life” (2016), “League Of Legends” with Canadian rap legends Maestro Fresh Wes, Kish, Dan-e-o, Moka Only & Thrust (2017), “Giants” with The Sorority’s Phoenix Pagliacci & DJ Mel Boogie (2018), and most recently “Another Year” on Shad’s latest release A Short Story About a War (2018).
Eternia exercises her passion for the arts by mentoring youth through the Ada Slaight Youth Arts Mentorship Program and the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, applying her seasoned expertise as an Ontario Arts Council and FACTOR jury member, lending her voice to a variety of issues including mental health, gender equality and Canadian Hip Hop History in public speaking engagements, producing a podcast “The Messengers” that offers a glimpse into the artistic process with special guests for the youth-based Love Is Moving publication, and shines on camera in her role as co-host of the nationwide television show “Love Is Moving” and guest television host for “Context With Lorna Deuck.”
From The Source Magazine to Hot 97, CBC to NPR, Toronto to Berlin, NXNE to SXSW, the Juno Awards to Paid Dues, there is no doubt Eternia has arrived … AT LAST.
Hip Hop Education at Hart House will support our values of representation, collaboration and social justice to explore and provide platforms for key principles of hip hop and its importance in our everyday culture on all three campuses. Recognizing hip hop as a powerful global influencer, Hart House seeks to create unique opportunities for students and community to engage hip hop education and artistic expression.
