NZ’s Premier Hip Hop Event At The Edge

20 September 2004

NZ’s Premier Hip Hop Event At The Edge

Two Days of Poppin’, Lockin’ Hip Hoppin’

AUCKLAND, September 20, 2004— New Zealand’s premier Hip Hop event, the Boost Mobile Aotearoa Hip Hop Summit, will return next month with two days of free poppin’, lockin’, uprockin’ Hip Hoppin’ on Friday, October 1 and Saturday, October 2 at Aotea Square, THE EDGE®.

Now in its fifth year and boasting a naming rights sponsor, the Boost Mobile Aotearoa Hip Hop Summit celebrates all four elements of Hip Hop – MCing (rapping) DJing, breaking (breakdancing) and graffiti art (graf) – making it the only event of its kind in New Zealand. Reflecting Hip Hop’s incredible and wide-ranging rise in popularity, last year’s Summit attracted over 11,000 young New Zealanders, ranging in age from 11-23 years and with almost half of them young women. This year’s event is expected to be even more popular.

Presented as part of THE EDGE® Community Arts Programme, with support from Boost Mobile and The Edge FM, the Summit is a celebration of the unique style of Aotearoa Hip Hop culture. The artistic programming by HOLLA (DJ Sir-Vere) and Disruptiv (Askew and the Crew) showcases some of New Zealand’s top acts and emerging artists. The Mainstage at Aotea Square, THE EDGE®, which will be humming from Noon–6pm on both days, with over twenty MCs, DJs and crews from around the country, including Ill Semantics, Nesian Mystic, DJ Raw and Emcee Lucia.

The Breakdancing Stage, which will kick off with a three-hour Open Circle with DJ Manchoo for all-comers on Friday, will get into full battle mode on Saturday from Noon when the breaking challenge begins. Featuring 3 on 3 Battles with crews such as Black Out, Common Ground and Disruptiv Allstar Breakers, the Summit will also present for the first time a B-Girl Battle, a contest between female crews that is rare in this historically male-dominated arena.

The two-day graf writing event, Disrupt The System will take a new twist this year with 3-D artworks in Aotea Square. Six vehicles and over 20 metres of PVC banners will be turned into works of art by more than 25 top graf artists, including international guests Mist and Tilt of LeClub from France.

This year Boost Mobile is supporting the Hip Hop Summit as part of its ongoing strategy to support New Zealand music and cultivate new and emerging talent. “We have a natural synergy with this event - the Hip Hop Summit is about bringing the community together and Boost Mobile is all about hooking people up and giving them a voice,” says Boost Mobile Marketing Manager Tania Bui.

“THE EDGE® is proud to help dispel the myths surrounding Hip Hop and help reveal to a wider audience the 30-year old artform that has taken the world’s young people by storm,” said THE EDGE® Community Arts Manager, Sally Markham. “All four elements of Hip Hop require amazing technical skills which are fantastic to see in action and I hope that Auckland families will join us in Aotea Square to find out first-hand what all the fuss is about.”

ENDS