Breakdancing, emceeing, graffiting and DJing are all elements of hip-hop culture. These elements were present at Friday night’s Hip-Hop Spotlight, an event for social interactions and comprehensive hip-hop culture. The event was made possible by the Cross-Cultural Leadership Center.
“We set an event that is safe and is an educational environment for students to have fun and hang out on a Friday night,” said Maikhou Tahao, sophomore sociology major and CCLC member. “The late night lounge is an opportunity to be able to build relationships, connect with others and be educated about a hip-hop culture.”
Hip-Hop Spotlight, which took place inside Selvester’s Cafe-by-the-Creek, featured four stations for attendees, including a graffiti station where students were taught how to write their names in a graffiti style. Other stations included a hip-hop station, a candy bar complete with Red Vines and an area where dancing and performances took place.
“It was an awesome opportunity for people to come and embrace the hip-hop culture itself and have a good time,” said Corina Martinez, senior social science major. “Events like these are important for our campus because it introduces people to a culture they are unfamiliar with. This shows we have a good time without alcohol and it’s not always about violence, it is about embracing who you are.”
The vibe in the room was lively; individuals were bobbing their heads and rocking to the beat of the music. The performers kept everyone dancing,
The dance team made an appearance at the Hip-Hop Spotlight as the last performance of the night. Everyone gathered to show love, even standing on chairs in the back to get a better view.
“It was a successful event,” said Griselda Avila, senior multicultural and gender studies major.
The evening embraced the hip-hop culture and was good place for students to feel at home, said Avila.
Overall, the late night lounge turned out to be an open-ended event full of friends witnessing what a relaxing Friday night looks like. After a long week (and month in school), students certainly deserved to have a good night.
Valeria Flores can be reached at [email protected] or @Vallflores_ on Twitter.
