TRUE Skool Celebrates 45 Years of Hip Hop with Hip Hop Show Featuring Milwaukee Creatives
There are many organizations and nonprofits that put on a front, but TRUE Skool, Inc. is the real deal. TRUE Skool is a nonprofit that offers free after school programs for high students aged 14-19. In other words, TRUE Skool is giving minority youth the chance to dive into the creative world. Sending the message that art matters and not everyone’s path includes going to college or working in an office.
TRUE Skool is revolved around Hip Hop, because according to their site, “our instructors understand that Hip Hop culture was a positive empowering force in our lives as young people,” so they use Hip Hop as a way to reach the youth and lead them on the path of empowerment.
A few artists were hired to make murals for TRUE Skool’s #weclaim45 event. (Picture provided by TRUE Skool)
2018 marks the 45th year of Hip Hop, and to celebrate TRUE Skool teamed up with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Sociocultural Programing to create We Claim 45—a series of events to celebrate Hip Hop culture.
We Claim 45 was an all day event held on Nov. 29 that was broken down into three parts. The first was a multimedia paneled discussion, then various breakout sessions. And to top it all off, a Hip Hop birthday party and concert was held in UWM’s union ballroom.
Co-Executive Director Fidel Verdin kept reminding the crowd that they were at a concert until it locked in their heads. He’d hype the crowd up by saying that this isn’t a library, and having dancers come out in intervals to buss a few moves in between sets.
“You don’t have to sit down tonight,” he said. “It’s a Hip Hop show.”
Throughout the event, dancers came and took over the floor, which encouraged the crowd to dance. (Picture provided by TRUE Skool)
By the time the second act was on, the crowd was upfront and intuned with everything going on.
Co-Executive Director Shalina Ali was behind the scenes, making sure everything was running smoothly. She even made sure to order pizza for those a part of the staff before the event started.
Verdin spoke to the crowd throughout the night introducing local acts such as A.D.H.D, a rap group and Clan 19, breakdancers, while also stating the importance of Hip Hop.
“At 45, Hip Hop has created an impact all around the world,” Verdin said.
Most artists showed off more than one talent during the event. (Picture provided by TRUE Skool)
As the night progressed, the ballroom became more and more packed. There were multiple DJ’s spinning classic Hip Hop hits in between performances. But when the lights shut off and the stage lights came on, Milwaukee artists took the stage and gave their all to show their appreciation for a genre that gives them the platform to express themselves.
TRUE Skool, Inc. host a variety events throughout year, and to found out about their upcoming events visit their site.
We Claim 45’s official flyer.