Kick’N Rhymes. The Black Box Collective. March 2009.

Dedicated to the Winners and the losers, Dedicated to the Jeeps and Land Cruisers, Dedicated to the Y’s, 850 I’s, Dedicated to n***** who do drive-by’s, Dedicated to the Lexus and the Ax, Dedicated to MPV’s phat…Can it be all so simple then?

-Ghostface Killa & Raekwon the Chef from Wu-Tang’s “Can it Be All So Simple”

I was introduced to H.E.R. back in the early 90s. She helped me write my first rhyme at 12 to Dre’s “Ain’t Nothin’ But a G Thang.” We discovered you could plug in ear phones into the mic jack of a boombox, and use the left side to record my first “hit.” Then again, was it the right? Later on, she introduced me to Black Thought, Mos, and Kweli, naturally, I mimic’d their style and delivery. I’ve hung up the mic (earphones) since then, but ghostwriting will still be an option. She took the pens and brushes out of my hand, and allowed me to experiment in an aerosol medium. Convinced Dj Freefall to let me scratch on one of his f*cked up records, that lasted about an hour.  Finally, when Sincere taught me that breakdancing wasn’t made for giants like myself, she didn’t laugh, yea, the 6-step was a challenge. And although I never left H.E.R., I have accepted H.E.R. growth into a commercial machine. I know she’s still the same inside, though. And, It was nice of H.E.R. to reintroduce herself this past weekend, reminding me of why I fell in love with H.E.R. in the first place.

A couple blocks from the clubs of Downtown, the myriad of graffiti tags and art turn the warehouse/garage of what is known as The Black Box Collective into the streets’ gallery. Think nothing into something. Breakdance and Emcee Battles. Two turntables and a microphone. This is the Kick’N Rhymes Event. This is H.E.R. This is Hip Hop. Hosted and founded by AmIAm, Kick’N Rhymes is a spinoff of the monthly Spit Camp MC Battle, a Hip Hop/Sneaker Jam produced in an effort to teach the youth about roots of a culture they may not know of, by drawing them in with another culture they steadily embrace.

“Due to the mainstream straying away from the roots and culture of Hip Hop, I want to merge the elements of Hip Hop with the [sneaker & streetwear] phenomena of today.  Being that I’ve always been around MC battles, I want to shed light on that aspect of Hip Hop to the youth.  Bringing MC battles (Spit Camp), B-boy battles, Producer battles, and Sneaker battles together” -AmIAm

No ‘Supermanin’ that Ho’ here kids. Thanks for takin’ me back to ’92-99.  Word.