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The 2nd Annual Expo of the Elements will be held on April 19, 2008 at the Mul-Chu-Tha Fair beginning at 2 p.m. and ending around 11 p.m. Last year’s crowd was estimated at 400, and this year’s projection is expected to exceed 500 attendees.
The Expo of the Elements is a free of charge Hip-Hop symposium celebrating and promoting the various art forms that define the Hip-Hop culture. The elements are rap, break dancing, DJ’ing, and graffiti style painting.
“This is to show artistic abilities,” said community member Jacob Antone, organizer and promoter for the event. Each element will have a “battle” or contest between competitors for a chance to win prizes and awards.
Several well known Hip-Hop squads, graffiti crews and DJ’s will be judging the battles as well as performing. Arizona will be well-represented by Salt River Community Member DJ Element, Furious Styles Crew, DJ Deeko from Tucson, female popper Hollywood from Phoenix, as well as a slew of other local artists who hail from the Grand Canyon State. The Red Bull company will be appearing to promote their products, and a car show will also be underway with custom cars cruising to the expo.
Antone, along with his brother Jaime Jackson, secured out of state of artists who are delighted to assist with the burgeoning summit. “A lot of these guys are well-known people,” noted Antone of the more high profile guests like B-Boy Eric from Soul Control out of California. “The vision behind it is what keeps people coming in.”
At first Antone and Jackson wanted to do a class for aspiring hip-hoppers. Then the idea expanded in scope and vision into the Expo of the Elements. “We just kind of took the ball and ran with it.” Antone and his friends are credited with spreading the culture and artistic sensibilities of hip-hop. There was some minor backlash when it came to last year’s graffiti battle. When it comes to the ill-reputed status of tagging, Antone offered an insightful passage. “People notice the difference between the tag on the block next door compared to the wall we did out there. They are totally two different types of senses, as far as the art’s concerned.”
By using the first Expo as a measuring stick, the team was able to up the scale of prizes and promotion, “It’s bigger and better,” said Antone, who also performs under the stage name DJ Whoa. David Yesk, Tim Antone and his staff at D3, and Zuzette Kisto from Tribal Recreation, and GRTI assisted the 22 year old Jacob in developing this event. Jacob and his committee were also able to impress our very own Governor Rhodes, a man who values positive activities among the youth.
“I definitely want to thank everybody,” Antone said of all the help he has received. The event is another outlet for the local youth to be involved in something constructive and optimistic. “The kids out here have real talent,” he said.
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