Moving Forward Through Covid: Part 1
Now that it seems like the end of the pandemic is in sight - or at least that that it will end at some point - we wondered what different Hip-Hop scenes and practices will look like when that happens. Will they go back to they way they were before? Will things change due to people’s experience of having been isolated for a year? Will people have new attitudes towards technology? How might that change different art forms?
In other words, what will Hip-Hop look like after the pandemic?
As it turned out, people had so much to say on this issue that we decided to split our conversation into two parts. In part one, artists discuss their specific experiences over the past year. In the second part – coming soon! - we will look at some of the deeper lessons that people have drawn from the experience.
Not surprisingly, two topics that came up repeatedly were access to spaces and the Hip-Hop community’s use of technology to bridge gaps in that access. Is it possible to reproduce physical experiences of community in online environments? If not, how should we deal with that?
“The breaking world was hit pretty hard,” says Danny Rodriguez, who represented dance on Next Level’s 2015 El Salvador residency. “Almost every battle, no matter how big or small, was cancelled. A few folks set up online battles that were pretty dope, but the scene pretty much went into a halt. On top of that, many venues where we used to teach, train, and hold events have permanently closed. Finding affordable spaces within our communities is always a difficult thing to do, but it will be harder after the pandemic.”
Rodriguez notes that technology offers many opportunities to address these losses, but it can also be a double-edged sword. “The thing about technology is that you have to embrace it or get left behind,” he notes. “You either taught classes in 2020 or you didn’t because of technology - especially if you live someplace where the weather doesn’t cooperate. Many people in our community were forced to get down with technology and I am thankful for that. What I did notice is that more breakers began to document their experiences via Instagram and Youtube. This is very important. I witnessed many breakers learn to use other parts of technology to earn a living. Many breakers also questioned why they were in this community.”
“So the pandemic has been a form of meditation for us. Sustainability is the key word.”
Legendary B-Girl Asia One, who represented dance on Next Level’s 2017 Croatia residency, agrees that digital spaces are valuable, but still feels that in-person events will always be fundamental to hip-hop. “We recently started a small outdoor practice session and are highly enjoying connecting again,” she says. “I feel that due to our human nature, and that even though the pandemic has been here a year, it’s still not long enough to change our physical behavior long term. I think in Hip-Hop we will continue to convene in the same methods: in person, close quarters, physical contact, sweat flying, high fiving, hugs and kisses. Truly, I feel like we will. Maybe because some of us can be rebellious in nature, some are ignorant, but ultimately we are a loving and confrontational bunch of folks and like to express that physically through our dance, art, and music.”
“The things I feel that will stay that are pandemic-informed are zoom meetings, online classes and workshops, battles and even art making,” she continues. “There is no excuse to not keep organizing and holding events that everyone who chooses to can come in. We may also appreciate the things we go to in person more now and not treat them as throwaway experiences, instead milking them for all they are worth.”
Dr. Elliot Gann, aka Phillipdrummond, who taught production on Next Level’s 2015 Senegal residency, agrees that although digital spaces are valuable, they are ultimately still tools for building real human connections, and that it’s important not to lose sight of that. “I think now people are more savvy with live-streaming and perhaps some of us are more cautious that virtual events will continue and there will be hybrid events as well as a hungry return to in-person events as well,” he says. “It’s already affected beat making and beat culture, and created new communities and connections/increased visual scenes and platforms.”
Though online events and strategies are currently serving as a replacement for live events, most people also seem to be using this as an opportunity to build systems that will still be useful after the pandemic ends, though maybe in different capacities.
After all, as Glen “DiViNCi” Valencia, who taught hip-hop production on Next Level’s 2016 Honduras residency, observes, there is good and bad to be found in almost any situation. “We’re likely to gravitate towards the negative effects from being in this situation,” he acknowledges. “But there’s definitely ways that it’s revealed some of our best powers and some of what we actually have at our disposal. And hopefully we can take that with us as we move back out into the world.”
-----
Stay tuned for Part 2, where we will try to do just that!