It is a blessing when remarkable persons that we admire make time to speak with us. Those shared interviews are reflections of us both, that’s why it’s imperative that what we ask matters.
One of those persons we were blessed to speak with was Hip Hop artist and filmmaker Sixman!
During our about the past 12 months of his life and career, we asked Six this GOOD QUESTION: How would you summarize 2022?
Sixman answered, “I would summarize 2022 as a special year for me. My whole goal was to break back into the market of Michigan Hip Hop, a place I started. I feel like I really did that.
I started with ‘Return of the Boom Bap’; that was my homecoming, playing in Grand Rapids as a headliner at The Pyramid Scheme. That 3-day cultural event was me trying to implement a different style of events in the market along with giving other artists a voice and a stage who normally had gotten overlooked a bit. So that was special for me.
Then coming back to The Pyramid Scheme to play with El Da Sensei from Artifacts. We did ‘The Reset’ in Atlanta at 529 which allowed for me to show the influence I hold with in ATL’s Hip Hop scene. That was super important to me.
We were mentioned in the Grand Rapids Film Festival. We expanded on current friendships and made new friends as well – Stock Da Bar Vodka, Wasted Brand Clothing, Green Mitten, and more.
Playing with Elzhi and Bizarre at The Pyramid Scheme was a great moment as well, so was ‘The Culture of Hip Hop Workshop’ at Wedgwood Christian Services.
But the best thing of 2022 was to be honored by Wedgwood and to be interviewed by a Michigan news icon, Maranda, was the highlight of it all for me. For me to tell my story for all was special in many ways.” | THIS ENT
[By Mr. Joe Walker]
On August 11, 1973, Clive Campbell aka DJ Kool Herc hosted a “Back to School Jam” for his sister Cindy at 1520 Sedgwick Ave in Bronx, New York.
The intent was to simultaneously raise money for school clothes while bringing people together for a night of love, peace, unity and having fun in a racially, socially, and financially tumultuous environment.
Utilizing the dual turntables set-up used by disco DJs, Herc ingeniously isolated the record breaks on two identical vinyl sets by James Brown and other funk artists. His groundbreaking “Merry-Go-Round” technique allowed those party goers to dance continuously to loops.
Their musicality to these rhythms would become known as “breaking”, with these dancers dubbed B-boys and B-girls. Eventually spoken word would accompany these breakbeats, a style recognized by the term “rapping”.
DJ Kool Herc’s generous intentions on August 11, 1973, would not only change his life and the lives of his family, friends, and community, he would generationally change the lives of millions around the world forever. On that day, Herc gave birth to the culture of Hip Hop. Throughout 2023 we proudly recommend that everyone celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop!
