St. Louis Public Library

Photo by John Koniak, St. Louis Public Library Title: St. Louis Public Library logo celebrating 150th anniversary
Source: John Koniak, St. Louis Public Library

ST. LOUIS PUBLIC LIBRARY CELEBRATES SECOND ANNUAL HIP HOP APPRECIATION WEEK

The St. Louis Public Library is proud to host programs throughout the week of May 17-23 in celebration of its Second Annual Hip Hop Appreciation Week.  All events will be held at Central Library, 1301 Olive Street (except as noted), and are FREE and open to the public.

Hip-Hop Appreciation Week celebrates the history and culture of the art form. The programs showcase all four elements of hop hop—music, DJing, breaking, and graffiti.

This year, the Library's Hip-Hop Appreciation Week programming includes:

·Graffiti Chalk Art            (May 17 at 2 p.m.)

Chalk artist Ryan Frank kicks off the week with his graffiti skills on a stand alone chalkboard. Check out chalk from Central's Customer Service Desk (Olive Street entrance) and join the fun all week long on the Olive Street sidewalk!

·Hip Hop Art Exhibit        (Central's Carnegie Room)

Dionne Carroll's hip hop art display.

May 18-21             3-7 p.m.

May 22                  1-5 p.m.

·Hip Hop Ya Don't Stop    (May 18 at 4 p.m., Central's Creative Experience)

Celebrate Hip Hop Appreciation Week.Grades 6-12

·Defining Real Hip Hop and Its Business       (May 18 at 6 p.m., Central's Carnegie Room)

A panel discussion and edutainment program demonstrating the key elements of hip hop culture as it relates to business.

·History of DJing   (May 19 at 3:30 p.m., Julia Davis Branch, 4415 Natural Bridge Avenue)

Explore the history of DJing and get hands-on experience spinning on turntables using both digital technology and vinyl records.  Teens/Adults

·Mvstermind          (May 19 at 7 p.m., Central's Auditorium)

LIVE rap performance.

·Lunch Beat St. Louis      (May 20 at Noon, Central's Creative Experience)

Lunch Beat St. Louis is back for a hip hop lunch dance party with Nappy DJ Needles.  Buy lunch on-site or bring your own. For more information visit www.facebook.com/LunchBeatSTL

·iLLPHONiCS         (May 20 at 8 p.m., Central's Auditorium)

LIVE hip hop fusion band.

·Recording Room Workshops   (May 21 at 3 p.m., Central's Creative Experience)

Registration required.  E-mail cexp@slpl.org or call 314.880.8593 for info.

·"I Am Hip Hop: A Celebration of Women in Hip Hop"      (May 21 at 5 p.m., Central's Carnegie Room)

Celebrate women in hip hop through this interactive presentation with art by Dionne Carroll;  spinning with DJ Sinamin; breakdancing, beatboxing, and a panel discussion on "How Do We Redefine the Image of Women in Hip Hop?" Panelists include: Hip Hop blogger Kristian Blackstar ,rapper Lori Lloyd, and more.

·Film Screening:  Nas: Time is Illmatic          (May 23 at 2 p.m., Central's Auditorium)

Nas shares stories of his upbringing, his influences (from the music of his jazz musician father Olu Dara to the burgeoning hip hop scene in New York City), and the obstacles he faced before signing with a major record label. (NR, 74 min., 2014) Tribeca Films.

For more information, call 314.880.8593.

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