From April 17th to 20th, Trinity College hosted the 19th Annual Trinity International Hip Hop Festival,
organized by students and the faculty advisor of the Trinity Chapter of the Temple of Hip Hop, in collaboration with five dedicated community partners: Khaiim the RapOet, Hydro8sixty, Poptart, G-Whiz, and Jasmin Agosto ’10. In championing the theme, “Hip Hop Saved My Life”, we were able to curate an immersive experience where the Trinity and the Greater Hartford communities were exposed to artists, educators, activists and scholars from all over the United States such as New York City, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Providence, Boston and Atlanta as well as other countries such as Japan, Senegal, South Africa, Guatemala, France, the United Kingdom, and Estonia.
The festival offered a rich lineup of events. The keynote lecturer, Dr. Celine Mitchell of the London School of Economics, spoke compassionately about French Algerian youth and how they use hip hop to cope with historical trauma. The powerful panel discussion explored hip hop’s healing power. For example, one artist, Fou Malade of Senegal, shared a heartbreaking story about family rejection after pursuing hip hop as a career. The film screening celebrated five decades of hip hop by shining a light on the music and culture’s contribution to social justice. And then, of course, there were all the performances covering hip hop’s four core artistic elements: MCing, DJing, Graffiti Writing, and Breakdancing.
One of the most unique features of this year’s festival was that it was not exclusively held on the Trinity College campus. Instead, events were spread out across the city. Events were held at the Trinity Innovation Hub, Parkville Market, the Bond Ballroom, the Swift Factory, and at the Charter Oak Boxing Academy. Another aspect we are very proud of was the amount of support given to over 20 locally based and minority owned businesses such as Heaven’s Joy, Semilla Café, The Ital Juicery, Samad Gardens, and Cook Up Coop.
Thanks to support from the Center for Hartford Engagement and Research (CHER), we were able to co-host a special event in the North End in collaboration with Brother Kelvin X Lovejoy and the Blue Hills Civic Association. Featured artists Skyzoo (rapper and songwriter) and Raheem Nelson (graphic designer and illustrator) gave a riveting presentation on their co-authored book The Mind of a Saint: Illustrated. This “visual companion” to Skyzoo’s concept album draws inspiration from the fictional life of Franklin Saint, the central character in FX’s Snowfall, offering a cautionary tale about the destructive impact of drugs and the moral complexities faced by those ensnared in that world.
All in all, it was another successful festival, made possible by the passionate efforts of students, faculty, artists, and community partners, and the continued support of the Trinity College community.
See you next year!
