“I almost feel like I have super powers”: Connecting the Elements, Part II

In this moment, it seems strange to be talking about anything but the coronavirus pandemic, and we do plan to talk about the many creative ways that the hip-hop community is dealing with a wide range of issues brought on by the pandemic in our next blog. 

But hip-hop’s approach to this – or any – issue is facilitated by its own basic principles. In Part I, we talked to some Next Level artists about the general relationship between different hip-hop elements. In Part II, they give us some specific examples of how this influence has been expressed in their own work.

As a DJ, Team Bosnia & Herzegovina/Montenegro’s Marc Bayangos feels that different music is appropriate for different elements, and those connections trace the deeper structure of hip-hop culture. “For a DJ playing out for events, I feel that other elements constantly influence me,” he says. “I've played at all kinds of events for MCs, Graf heads, and all types of hip-hop dance. Knowing and having different types of music for each is key! Even playing music for hardcore scratch heads requires a bit digging. If anything else, all the elements helps open up a gateway of music for DJs for other projects like mixtape ideals or live sets.”

One of the best examples of this process, says  Team Thailand’s RyNea Soul, is the connection between deejaying and production. “I do believe that a producer should learn to dj and a dj should learn to produce music,” she says. “Why? I believe djing is its own art form, and beat making is also its own art form because the creative processes are different and when I merge the two I almost feel like I have super powers. DJs have always been the gatekeepers of the music, but being the one who produces the music and then showcases the music via djing gives me a different perspective. Its like my artistic voice is louder than before. Not everyone can be both or needs to, but for me, I hear the music different by being both, I continue to study the music, my ear become more developed as a listener and how I hear and see the end product for my tracks. Being both allows me to control my brand, develop and control my sound. I think as a producer/dj I appreciate music more and feel more creative.”

Team El Salvador’s Danny Rodriguez sees a similar connection between music and dance. “Breaking has always been influenced by the production of Hip Hop music,” he says. “Even when it comes to street dances that predate Breaking, the music was central to the style of dance. To this day, there are certain songs we break to. There are some songs we don't break to. I know poppers who only pop to certain songs. Go to any battle where there are different styles that compete and you will find that certain songs and even genres are played.”

“Also, there are some songs that come on that actually influence the emotions that breakers physically convey while dancing.  The harder the beat, the harder we go. The battle is what informs the breaker so a harder beat in the music, the harder the battle will go.”

According to Team Cambodia’s SANOism, none of this is an accident.  As he points out, “Hiphop is a ceremonial party culture, once heavily centered around the DJ and dancers with an officiating MC. Style-writers (see Phase2 r.i.p. “Style-writing from the Underground”) or what’s commonly and wrongly referred to as “graffiti artists” (an outsiders/culture vulture term that was popularized thru mass media), reflected the political climate, clothing fashion and movement styles, but also culminates all of writing and art history as influences…”

 “Can control movement is synonymous with popping’s Isolated muscle control. The way letters lean forward and back, slice and dice, cut thru and overlap, loop, connect, drop caps, kickers with extension bars, let alone funk styles can all be seen in popping. The dj will play songs like Arabian Prince’s Egypt, while poppers showcase king tutting styles... Even The word “style” comes from ‘stylus’ - the tool used to inscribe those heiroglyphs on the walls. Style, adornment and multi disciplinary expression... hiphop culture is wild style applied philosophy from young urban expressionists, who adorned the cities as temples in our own sacred writings to elevate us from violent gang culture to creative ceremonies honoring our ancestors, ourselves and each other.”

“Each time you approach the wall or floor your saying something different or striving too,” says Team Croatia’s Asia One (No Easy Props). “You don’t do the same piece over and over again or the same run. You let it tumble out of you, harnessing the energy and controlling it enough to make it clean without being contrived. Though I’m not a DJ or MC, I feel it’s similar in those arenas as well. I’ll never forget what my mentor West FC shared with me.”

“He said you want to make your letters dance.”