Indiana U Students Form First Hip-Hop Frat 
Published Thursday, January 17, 2008 9:15 AM
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By Danielle Harling

For the first time in Hip-Hop history, a college fraternity is dedicating itself to the four elements of Hip-Hop, and in the process they are becoming the first Hip-Hop fraternity in existence.

 

Eta Iota Rho, also known as HIP, was founded by Quinnton Parker, Justin Wolverton, and Keane Rowley, three young break-dancers who weren't quite excited about the current state of Hip-Hop.

 

"We're not here with [false] intentions, this isn't a publicity stunt," Quinnton Parker, one of the founders of Eta Iota Rho told AllHipHop.com. "All the people involved generally want a change in the Hip-Hop community. They don't want this negative image that comes from the media. They just want everybody to know what [Hip-Hop] is about."

 

Not only is Eta Iota Rho open to MC's, break-dancers, DJ's, and graffiti artists, but the organization is also open to Hip-Hop lovers and enthusiasts.

 

"There are a lot of people that aren't rappers, but they know a lot about [Hip-Hop]," Parker explained.

 

Eta Iota Rho will officially makes its debut on the Indiana University - Bloomington campus in Fall of 2008 and they are currently in the process of writing a Constitution and trying to find housing for its potential members.

 

"A fraternity will allow us to have a house and it will allow us to start our own small community, and that's what it's all about, getting a community and being together," Parker said.

 

Although Eta Iota Rho was only formed a few months ago, the organization has already taken part in several events, including a break dance battle they held in conjunction with Indiana University's Hip-Hop Congress.

 

The founders of Eta Iota Rho also have plans for expansion to other college campuses once a national organization is created.


Comments

 

Eight Mile Road Music News » Indiana U Students Form First Hip-Hop Frat said:

January 17, 2008 9:28 AM
 

jerzey379 said:

1st bitches! so what!
January 17, 2008 9:48 AM
 

IkonRadio.com said:

A part of me feels like this will be shunned by traditional frats like those that have been around about 100 years...

But....

Everybody has to have a start somewhere. You never know, it may branch out and they could start having chapters everywhere. The first instance they get cited for HAZING........ITS OVER. So I hope they get their stuff together and do this right since they are student ambassadors of Hip Hop
January 17, 2008 10:04 AM
 

FuKdAtShhh DoT CoM » Blog Archive » Indiana U Students Form First Hip-Hop Fraternity said:

January 17, 2008 10:09 AM
 

jaeda said:

Ok, now thats what im talking about. I like the fact that people are starting to make a stand for hip-hop. So often the media and our so called black leaders throw hip-hop under the bus. Now that people are starting to take a stand maybe things will start to change for the better.
January 17, 2008 10:11 AM
 

HPT_D_Nice_1 said:

good idea....just stay out of trouble.
January 17, 2008 10:13 AM
 

Cnspeace said:

Bullshit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Me and my frat were 1st!!!! We are Ho Frat Ho and we are not Greek we are Black Got Dammitt!! Established in 1995 at Fayetteville State University and we are at Hampton ...stay focused.

Shout out to all the Ho's
Ho Frat Ho aka 90210

we also established a sisterhood in 1996 known as 227 ....please dont sleep we make plenty money and our parties were WAAAAAAAAAY better than the greeks...ask a Bronco if you dont know!
January 17, 2008 10:19 AM
 

Static said:

Hey, now I'm feelin it.  Do ya thang yall!
January 17, 2008 10:21 AM
 

Boss Up said:

coo idea...if u don't like this somethin is wrong wit u
January 17, 2008 10:26 AM
 

edit said:

I wonder what their hazing is like.


http://www.lilweezy.info
January 17, 2008 10:33 AM
 

Diseducation » Blog Archive » Hip Hop Frat at Indiana said:

January 17, 2008 10:33 AM
 

slimhermano said:

I like the idea. I hope they keep it clean and stay out of trouble. They are starting this fraternity in Indiana
January 17, 2008 10:37 AM
 

poe said:

this is an actual fraternity I would join, any other fraternity is irrelevant.


http://www.myspace.com/musiqjunkyproductions
January 17, 2008 10:38 AM
 

grouchy greg said:

as long as they don't try to beat me down, I would join. I aint into the frat thing, but I respect them. A Hip-Hop frat sounds too dope tho haha. The sorority gotta come next
January 17, 2008 11:01 AM
 

sedgwickave said:

Thank u for starting it up...but remember what pac said.."all eyez on me"
January 17, 2008 11:03 AM
 

Gentle Jones said:

do they have keggers
January 17, 2008 11:35 AM
 

Brazen said:

I have to say that while I commend their efforts, I do agree with the statement about the traditional Black Greek letter orgs shunning them. Being a member of the first Greek letter organization founded for and by College educated women, I must say that in some way it is a slap in the face...I cannot say that from the quote in the article that they truly understand the purpose and founding of our organizations...Again, I'm not against what they are doing but creating a fraternal organization, being incorporated and chartering chapters is more work than what I think they understand... and while it may be respected as a Hip Hop organization, it won't be respected as a Greek letter org. I wonder if the purpose of them wanting a fraternity to to secure a house? Whatever the case is, I wish them the best of luck- but I hope they can find an easier way to achieve their goals of community and the resurrection of Hip Hop ...they will have many many hoops to jump through and what might be unnecessary for what they are trying to create. I cannot help but wonder if movies like Stomp the Yard helped to create this interest...

Brazen
January 17, 2008 12:12 PM
 

Cycl-1777 said:

Yeah co-sign everybody this is some good shit.




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January 17, 2008 12:19 PM
 

DC CA$HVILLE said:

I LIKE IT, BUT I DIDN'T THINK IT WILL BEGIN IN INDIANA.  THE HAZING WILL BE INTERESTING AND WILL THEY BREAK DANCE INSTEAD OF STEPPING?

PEACE AND MORE HAIR GREASE,

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
January 17, 2008 12:20 PM
 

DC CA$HVILLE said:

@AHH

QUESTION.  SHOULD EVERY COLLEGE STUDENT BE IN A FRATERNITY/SOROITY?

PEACE AND OOH..AWW,

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January 17, 2008 12:26 PM
 

thehiphopnerd_08 said:

This has all the potential in the world to be really really corny...hopefully it doesn't get to that point

http://thehiphopnerd.blogspot.com/
January 17, 2008 12:33 PM
 

DC CA$HVILLE said:

Brazen said:

I cannot help but wonder if movies like Stomp the Yard helped to create this interest...

Brazen

@BRAZEN

MAYBE (IF YOUR COMING FROM A HIP HOP POINT OF VIEW), BUT I CAN SAY THAT "STOMP THE YARD" AND "DRUMLINE" INFLUENCE PEOPLE IN COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL TO JOIN A FRATERNITY/SOROITY.

PEACE AND MORE HAIR GREASE,

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
January 17, 2008 12:35 PM
 

beatbrothersproduction said:

Moo Si !!! Moo !!! Milk It !!! Milk It !!! That's what's up

It's The Brothers "BeatBrothers"

Hit us up! http://www.myspace/beatbrothersproduction
             http://www.myspace/hollyrockhood

            NEW ERA OF MUSIC***
January 17, 2008 12:43 PM
 

Dank1 said:

What a genius publicity stunt.  The guys who started the frat might not see it like that but you know dam well the University does hmmm maybe if we have a hip hop frat we will attract more students of color.  This is some corny bullshit and its sad to see these students who might be real fans of hip hop getting used like this.
January 17, 2008 1:00 PM
 

virtuoso said:

as a member of the frat I want to say that Stomp the yard had NOTHING to do with the making of it.

I also want to say that we aren't just doing this for publicity!!
EVERY member loves hip-hop and I mean HIP-HOP and what it stands for. Me being 18 I listen to a tribe called quest, big l, lupe fiasco, jay-z, common etc.
Like my peers really don't listen to this type of music. I love hip-hop so don't let this story fool you, we all love HIPHOP not RAP theres a big diff. I used to love H.E.R. was WAY ahead of its time, I wish he would do a pt. 2

January 17, 2008 1:08 PM
 

poetic_girl25 said:

I AM PROUD OF THIS....THIS IS A BIG STEP, YET I FEEL AS THOUGH THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE IN FOR AND THEY HAVE THE RIGHT MINDFRAME FOR IT....MOTIVATION, AND DETERMINATION.....THAT'S ALL IT TAKES....WILLPOWER AND TIME MANAGEMENT......WITH THAT SAID, I HAVE FAITH AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT ETA IOTA RHO HAS IN STORE....NO DOUBT I WILL SUPPORT AND BE THERE ALL THE WAY!!!!! MUCH LUV,

                                                               Poetic_Girl25
January 17, 2008 1:13 PM
 

grouchy greg said:

I can see the movie now
January 17, 2008 1:14 PM
 

poetic_girl25 said:

Oh and umm...I just read a couple of the comments above....and well, I do not believe this is a publicity stunt at all...

I truly believe that each and every member is in this frat because they have a true passion for Hip Hop....what hip hop truly is, and not the commercial bull crap u see on ur television now days....It kinda hurts to see so many people think so negatively about something so uplifting and positive....makes u see the people that have no goals in life or that probably don't stand for anything....me however, i have faith in them, because I know that I love poetry more than anything in the world and if there was something like this going on for people of my nature, I would jump on it.....no doubt....but obviously u don't believe in much or have a life for u to come thru and bash something that has yet to become all it can be.....GET A LIFE PLEASE!!!!!
Hip Hop lives, I'm out.....

                                                              Poetic_Girl25
January 17, 2008 1:19 PM
 

EtaIotaRho said:

Like virtuoso said we are not here to mess around.
we are not here to haze.
we would like to be accepted by the other greek org. but their acceptance of us is irrelevant to our mission.
We are here to educate.
the school as zero hand in this creation of Eta Iota Rho, this was a creation of the participants of an original element of Hip-Hop the breakers. and FYI the school and the breakers don't get along so well. so to say this is being built up to attract more students of color is simply one persons farfetched opinion.
January 17, 2008 1:22 PM
 

Dub_City Bomber said:

I think this could be a very good thing. It celebrates Hip-Hop,  while uniting other like them to a common cause.

However, being in a non-NPHC greek org (Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity, Inc.), I know that some of the Pan-Hell greek will shun them and say "they are not greek."

Hold you head up, gentleman. And persevere. Maybe we'll see HIP on DSU's campus one day.
January 17, 2008 1:27 PM
 

virtuoso said:

I was the one who wrote allhiphop telling them about the fraternity!!!

To be real, I really didn't think they were going to write me back, but when they did I was mad geeked

IU has nothing to do with it besides being the campus we stay on!!

like I said this is real hiphop and our focus is not to attract only  students of color ,we want to attract lovers of hiphop that live on the iub campus



January 17, 2008 1:39 PM
 

Dank1 said:

I hope you people aren't misunderstanding what I said I can believe the students love hip hop I do too my point was the only reason the school let them start this frat was to get the publicity and to attract black students because stereotypically thats who listens to hip hop.  So Poetic_Girl25 if any of that rant was directed at me then I'm sorry you didn't take the time to read past my first sentence.
January 17, 2008 1:38 PM
 

devans00 said:

Cool!

I wish this was around when I was in college.  I'd give it a serious look.
January 17, 2008 1:44 PM
 

EReal said:

Where do I sign up,

Imma paint the walls of the frat house baby! Pieced up!
January 17, 2008 2:14 PM
 

First Hip-Hop Fraternity « td-block said:

January 17, 2008 3:36 PM
 

areyouHIP said:

Much thanks to all the feedback. Positive and Negative.
Peace, Love, and Hip Hop.
January 17, 2008 4:12 PM
 

truth tella said:

I heard to pledge ya gotta be able to do the soilder boy or chicken noodle soup dance.Guess ima get da boot
January 17, 2008 4:37 PM
 

bigo75 said:

If you are serious, you need to set firm foundation by considering how you want to make your organization affect society. You need to establish principles which give your organization direction, if you don’t, it will not last. I work everyday to make sure  my Fraternity is the greatest in the world, so I know the amount of dedication it takes. I support anyone who is about making a positive change in our community, greek or not. Good Luck! Hip Hop needs a balance!
January 17, 2008 4:43 PM
 

Rhymestyle Records said:

Yeah thanks for the feedback, Im part of the frat aswell, our mission statement is to revive the positive image of Hip Hop again

~Rhymestyle~
January 17, 2008 4:43 PM
 

EtaIotaRho said:

Dank no disrespect but if you weren't here at IU when it was started i suggest you keep quite about why we were a loud to start this frat.

We are all thankful for the support that has been express on this thread.  I would love to stick around and chat but i have business to attend to.

Peace, Love and Hip-hop
January 17, 2008 4:54 PM
 

Jon J said:

THIS JUST IN!!! I am from Kokomo, IN and I have just been informed of the frats hazing. Those wanting to join up with this frat will have to listen to Tony Yayo's cd and are not allowed to cry. You will be required to perform the songs on spot at any given time.
January 17, 2008 5:01 PM
 

Rox-it said:

Hey everybody.  This is Keane.

What we're trying to do is promote the positive image and expression of Hip Hop culture throughout the community and campus.  We believe that the best way to accomplish this task is through uniting those who believe in and support this goal.  We believe that starting this Fraternity is the best way to accomplish this goal.

If any of you have ever tried starting a fraternity (which for some reason, I don't think many of you have) you would understand that the individuals involved in such a creation have the dedication and love for the cause to see it not only succeed, but flourish despite all opposition and demeaning statements sent their way.

I will not attempt to blatantly defend our cause on this forum because I know that through the organization of such a fraternity, we will definately have an impact on the IU Bloomington community.  It may not happen all at once and the results may not be televised, broadcasted on the radio, or even written about in the school paper.  But if by forming this fraternity, we are able to drastically change the way one person thought about the Hip-Hop community, than it was worth all the time and effort put into making this thing work.  Now, hopefully, a LOT more people will see the good that comes out of the Hip-Hop culture.

Because Hip-Hop is a culture.  It has its historic dates, locations, and people just like any other culture.  Yes, we could go on and on about [insert said Hip-Hop artist who was recently in the news for something bad].  But why not talk about DJ Kool Herc?  Or Someone else who has had a major positive impact on the forming of this culture?

In response to Truth Tella's response:  Your comment is one of the exact reasons why we're trying to do this.  Not a dis.  What i'm saying is that we are trying to promote the positive image of Hip-Hop, and eduate the community as well as ourselves about this image.  (Actually, that was pretty funny.  But no.  I can assure you that you don't even have to know how to do the soilder boy or chicken noodle soup dances to be apart of HIP)

Seriously people, instead of bashing HIP and guessing about what we do and don't do, how seriously we take Hip-Hop etc.,  Just ask.  Once you get a legitimate answer from someone who's making a direct effort to trying to make this fraternity successful.... then you can go ahead and bash us all you want (but please don't anyway).

E-mail me (waaaay more preferable) or call me and I will try to answer any and all of your questions to the best of my abilities.  If i'm not in class, studying, breaking, or sleeping, I will most likely answer your calls.  

Keane C. Rowley
Co-Founder of Eta Iota Rho (HIP) Hip-Hop Fraternity
keane4college@yahoo.com
myspace.com/rox_it
317-413-2266
January 17, 2008 5:12 PM
 

Rox-it said:

Oh, and hazing is, in every sense of the phrase, "Not Hip-Hop".  We don't do it.  This may make is less credible as a fraternity (even though it's illegal), but our goal is not to beat you down to make you feel welcomed.  This culture isn't about all that.
January 17, 2008 5:16 PM
 

Hypnotice7 said:

LOL@Jon J

I'm in a NPHC Frat (06) and think this is a good idea. Much success fellas. You should get a sorority started for the ladies that love HipHop.
January 17, 2008 5:17 PM
 

Theprince said:

Georgia Tech Checkin in. I've gotta say I'm excited at the prospect of this. I'm really not the fraternity type I'm big on my own individuality. BUT with my applications for grad school in at Indiana U already (and a couple other schools) there's a very real possibility that I would consider joining if I do attend IU.
January 17, 2008 5:18 PM
 

Rhymestyle Records said:

Its actually a COED frat, so girls are allowed to join aswell, to answer Hypnotice7's question
January 17, 2008 5:40 PM
 

Rhymestyle Records said:

Its actually a COED frat, so girls are allowed to join aswell, to answer Hypnotice7's question
January 17, 2008 5:41 PM
 

MICNIFICENT said:

sounds dope...more power to Hip Hop!!!
January 17, 2008 5:57 PM
 

Dank1 said:

Look EtaIotaRho I'm happy for you really and I hope my idea about why the University let you start the frat is wrong but thats my opinion and I don't think I need to keep quiet about that
Im done talking about this though so good luck guys maybe I'll come check it out the next time Im at IU.  Hell maybe you guys could have some big ass opening ceremony and get some big name mc's there I'd definitely stop by for that.
January 17, 2008 6:21 PM
 

the REAL Real Talk said:

good idea to start an ORGANIZATION about hip hop.  bad idea to make it a FRATERNITY.  what does Hip Hop have to do with the culture of using greek letters to represent your organization?  
January 17, 2008 9:10 PM
 

Indiana U Students Form First Hip-Hop Frat [allhiphop.com] at dropmagazine.com said:

January 17, 2008 9:27 PM
 

areyouHIP said:

its the brotherhood of a fraternity that we think is key. organizations dont have the same dynamic as a fraternity, which we plan to make a brotherhood and sisterhood of hip hop. all sharing ideas, concepts, new lyrics, new moves and coming together as one and exposing the culture of hip hop to the world. and in the right way. giving and taking criticism, and purely expressing ourselves as brothers and sisters in hip hop. living in close proximity, a house that has a recording studio so you can lay anything down anytime, a dance studio so you can dance whenever you want, graf. studio for practice. all the while doing it with other people that love hip hop as much as you do. we want to better ourselves at our elements as well help each other to do so as well. thats the dynamic we wanted to create. organizations dont have the passion, or the potential for passion even close to the true idea of a fraternity.
January 17, 2008 10:35 PM
 

Indiana U Students Form First Hip-Hop Fraternity - Rap GodFathers Community said:

January 18, 2008 6:57 AM
 

Indiana U Students Form First Hip-Hop Fraternity - Rap GodFathers Community said:

January 18, 2008 7:18 AM
 

Darnell004 said:

I was a little suspect about the title but it seems like they have something good to bring. Time will only tell.
January 18, 2008 3:10 PM
 

PRESTO said:

PEACE .... Good start yall ... keep it up and grow large ...
January 20, 2008 5:00 PM
 

TreyDonTheNupe said:

Thats wussup...but they aint getting Indiana Love lol....
January 23, 2008 11:44 AM
 

Break Dance | Indiana U Students Form First Hip-Hop Frat said:

January 23, 2008 5:11 PM
 

LTBROWN said:

AND YOU DON'T STOP!
January 23, 2008 7:18 PM
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