3rd Annual Is Hip-Hop History? Conference NYC Day 1

This was the 3rd annual Is Hip Hop History? Conference. organized by Warren Orange and Elena Romero of the Center for Worker Education, CCNY the theme was “The Battle“. The first day of the conference was a blast! Pete Rock, who gave the keynote address, talked about his love of music and how he began DJ’ing as a youngster.  On the strength of his passion for DJ’ing, his cousin,  Heavy-D took Pete Rock under his wing and introduce him to Marley Marl. When Marley needed a DJ for his rap show on WBLS, he called on Pete’s skills to rock the airwaves.

Ana “Rokafella” Garcia a dancer and B-Girs who has been featured in music videos, screened her film “All The Ladies Say” that highlights the lives of 6 female break dancers (B-Girls) who have made names for themselves in the male dominated world of break dancing. Afterward, Rokafella and her husband Kwikstep along with other dancers displayed their skills on the floor with a break dance performance that was on the money.

The DJ for the conference is Kool Kev, and get this — no laptop, no Serato, he was rockin’ the house with straight vinyl and did it well.

Pete Rock’s Keynote Address
How he got started in the music industry

Rokafella Kwikstep & Crew

Peace,

Is Hip-Hop History Conference Day 2