THE BEST ARTIST SHOWCASE IN THE WORLD

Showcase, symposium highlight positive hip-hop music

West Akronites Donovan Rodgers and Ismail Al-Amin will premiere the First Annual Hip Hop Showcase in Downtown Akron Sept. 6.
Graphic courtesy of Keepers of the Art Inc. DOWNTOWN AKRON — Two West Akron residents are bringing a day of positive hip-hop entertainment to Lock 3 Park Sept. 6.
Donovan Rodgers and Ismail Al-Amin, two Buchtel High School graduates, have planned the First Annual Hip Hop Showcase, an event that will bring rap artists from Ohio and Washington, D.C., as well as pioneers Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh, to the stage.

Rodgers and Al-Amin are the founders of Keepers of the Art, a “hip-hop advocacy organization” that aims to preserve the roots and integrity of hip-hop culture through education and entertainment.

“We want to expose the Akron area to a healthy alternative to hip-hop music,” Rodgers said. “A lot of times the version of hip hop that most people listen to or see is a tainted version of hip hop. It’s a version that glamorizes sex, violence and drugs — all the negatives that exist in our community. There is a positive side of hip hop.”

Keepers of the Art was organized in 2006 by the two friends. Al-Amin has a background in public policy and urban studies and is finishing his Ph.D at The University of Akron, while Rodgers has been involved in education and social work. Their first initiative was to begin the radio program “Hip Hop Flavas” on 91.3 The Summit, which airs positive hip hop and social commentary and features guests from the Akron community.

The organization also began working to provide mentors for students through Akron Public Schools and the Akron Urban League.

“We want to close the achievement gap among African-American males,” Al-Amin said.

For the past year the two have been working on the Lock 3 show. They first considered who they would like to appear.

“We made a list of the individuals we would want to work with, and we narrowed it down,” Al-Amin said. “When you talk about true-school hip hop, there’s no way you can’t talk about Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick.”

Next, they had to prove to the city that a hip-hop show would be a positive thing.

“We sat down with [Akron Deputy Mayor] Dave Lieberth and did a historical presentation on hip hop,” Al-Amin said. “Most people get their perception of hip hop from traditional mainstream outlets, so they can be very much misinformed. He liked what we were doing, so he gave us an opportunity to use Lock 3 Park.”

The showcase will begin at 3 p.m. and feature a full roster of acts until 10 p.m., with Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick headlining. Other acts featured will include The Poetic Republic, Ace Boogie, Cap C, Low Budget and MC Asheru. Graffiti artists also will be on hand to work on an 8-by-40-foot mural. Local break dance troupe the Illstyle Rockers also will be featured, and a dance floor will be set up so audience members can show off their own moves.

“It will be a real festival atmosphere,” Al-Amin said, who added the showcase is family friendly.

Tickets are $5 and are available at the Lock 3 Park gate.

In addition to the showcase, the duo also is facilitating a free Teachers Symposium at The University of Akron Sept. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. MC Asheru, also known as Gabriel Benn, will present his Hip Hop Education Literacy Program (HELP), a creative reading program that aims to help students master literacy skills. Teachers can receive continuing education credits for their attendance.

As MC Asheru, Benn is best known for his songs on the animated TV series “The Boondocks.” He received a Peabody Award in 2006, the first rapper to ever win that media recognition.

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