Gardens and Galleries | Celebrating Hip-Hop at 50
The Wadsworth Atheneum
Hartford
Nov. 2, 2023
When “Ms. Fat Booty” by Mos Def came on, I knew it was my type of party.
I try not to be one of those people, but the ’90s era of hip hop will always be my favorite. I’m not saying it’s the best, but it brings back so many memories of growing up and running the streets with my brothers and friends. Celebrating hip-hop is a celebration of the music that provided the backdrop to my life, and Gardens and Galleries — a party Thursday at the Wadsworth featuring poetry, DJs, break-dancing and live musical performances — provided many opportunities to reminisce.
I bumped into the sister of a childhood friend I hadn’t seen in almost 30 years. I saw a guy I took music lessons with at the Artists’ Collective. I recognized all of the b‑boys and b‑girls from my years of attending the Hip Hop Festival at Trinity. With each flash of nostalgia, a new song from that era in my life played in my head. And it was always hip-hop.
The event at the Wadsworth wasn’t only about music though. Lady K was there to give demonstrations of double-dutch, one of the core pillars of hip-hop culture. There was a fashion show combined with a breaking performance. In the back was a station for visitors to create their own chains. Clothing is critical to hip-hop, because who cares if you sound cool if you don’t look cool?
And of course, there was live music, provided by The Lost Tribe.
The evening wasn’t about only the past, but the ways that technology and innovation have changed how we appreciate hip-hop now. My favorite room of the event was the “silent party,” where each person was given a pair of wireless headphones. The music was pumped into each set, which made for a striking image of people dancing silently through the Wadsworth’s Morgan Great Hall.
The DJ for the event was DJ Michelle B. She told me she’d been DJing for five years, and had accidentally stumbled upon her talent for mixing.
“I was a karaoke connoisseur,” she said. “I went from event to event, sometimes doing karaoke three or four times a week. One day, I was asked to host a karaoke event, and within a week I was learning how to DJ. Now look at me! Being here at the Wadsworth is a dream. I came here as a kid, and now I’m DJing here!”
At bottom, the celebration of hip-hop is the celebration of people who have struck out a path in life that lets them live authentically. From humble beginnings in New York to a global phenomenon that influences culture everywhere, hip-hop has helped music, fashion dance and artwork evolve in ways never imagined. That evolution has been driven by people daring to be different, so now I can enjoy Mos Def in an art museum.
I think DJ Michelle B said it best: “Hip-hop is a culture. I love everything that has to do with our culture. It’s innovative, it’s a great tool for expression and it ties the culture together.”
Cheers to the first 50 years of hip-hop, and here’s to many, many more.
NEXT
The Wadsworth hosts Curator Talk: Rules & Repetition with Jared Quinton on Saturday, Nov. 4th.
Jamil finally makes it to Black Eyed Sally’s for some food and music.
