For a time, Hip-Hop wasn’t always held in high regard as the art form that it is today. Widely regarded as a misogynistic and violent genre from its inception and through its early teenage years, Hip-Hop struggled to receive acceptance in many ways from the government and the mainstream media.
Thursday night at the Through The Mic Concert Series held at the LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art), Murs, People Under the Stairs, Skeme, and VerBS proved that those days of being scrutinized are largely behind us, as Hip-Hop fans, artists, and contributors to the culture. To a certain extent, there will always be detractors, but as a whole, this event proved that Hip-Hop has made leaps and bounds towards acceptance.
Hosted and curated by L.A. native, Murs, and set in front of Chris Burden’s iconic “Urban Lights” sculpture amidst perfect Cali weather, fans enjoyed several hours of Hip-Hop music in the upscale artsy environment of the LACMA.
Skeme and VerBS kicked off the show with hyped up sets that got the crowd involved, as fans enjoyed food and beverages with a full bar and wide variety of foods to choose from. Kicking freestyles and rapping over a few popular beats, the two held the crowd down for the early part of the night. It will be exciting to see where both artists grow from this performance and what kind of buzz they can generate after this great platform, as they both clearly had the crowd’s attention and involvement.
But, it was clear that People Under the Stairs were the headliners, as many fans began to chant their name and rush to the front of the crowd prior to their performance. From beginning to end, with the exuberance and energy that any musical fan could appreciate, “People” as they are referred to by their loyal fans, put in work during their set. Performing new songs and fan favorites “People,” controlled the crowd like MCs should. Afterwards, many of the fans gathered around them to snap photos, and show their support for the seemingly exhausted MCs.
This event was a milestone for Hip-Hip, and in through October, every third Thursday of the month, it will continue to be a sign that times are in fact changing in Hip-Hop’s favor.
Check the photos below!!!
