Santa Cruz de la Sierra celebrated the Anniversary number 52 of hip hop culture With an event that brought together Grafiteros, rappers, dancers and cultural managers In the passage of the fourth ring, along Virgen de Cotoca Avenue. Duty contacted Valeria Saravia Herreraartistically known as Vash, who told Hip Hop culture in Bolivia and an event that had this August 9 for the anniversary.
On August 11, Hip Hop World Day is celebrated, however, in the Cruz Cruz, the celebration was advanced. Organized by the essential CORP Hip Hop collective and self -managed by the artists themselves, the meeting also included Breakdance exhibitions, conscious rap, freestyle, beatbox and audiovisual projectionsbecoming a space to make local talent visible, celebrate hip hop identity and share urban art with citizens.
“Actually graffiti is one of the elements of hip hop culture. Hip Hop culture has four artistic elements that are the Grafiti, Breaking, DJ and MC(…) as a movement of Artistic expression”, Explained Vash. Saravia is a hip hop activist and cultural manager, a member of the Essential CORP Hip Hop Universal collective since 2008.
Among Grafitti’s artists were Chullpa Harry, Nook, Step SEM, Edgar, Naio. About the Emecees (Rap) the guest artists were, armedly, Kronika, Draco and some rap bands such as the eighth, Big Nova, Mary Rap. Also, artists such as Bboys, Bboy Turbo, Tastaka, DJ Arny and more.
“It is a technique that uses the aerosol And it has multiple styles: Wild Style, Bombing, Throw up, character or realism, among others. Each GRAFITER He develops his own style over time, ”he explained.
Hip Hop culture
Vash stressed that in Bolivia hip hop culture began to consolidate in the late 2000s as an identity with its own principles and codes. “They are not rules, they are principles that foster personal development, social assistance and cultural redefinition. In Santa Cruz, since 2008 we work to make this culture visible,” he said.
According to Vash, hip hop culture has gone from being a Urban movement little recognized in the 90s to consolidate, since 2008, as a cultural identity with its own principles and codes. Hip Hop is governed by 18 principles recognized by UNESCO in 1979, which cataloged it as a worldwide social good.
These principles encourage Community aid, identity development and cultural redefinitionadapting the essence of hip hop born in the Bronx to the Bolivian reality.
Hip hop in Santa Cruz
In the Crupeña capital, the collective ESSENTIAL CORP He has promoted this vision through activities such as “Urban Invasion” or “Hip Hop Patient”, integrating elements of local dances and traditions “As steps from.” Tinku or Tobas– In breaking, and strengthening a sense of civility and belonging among young people.
Currently, Vash estimates that in Santa Cruz There are around 200 active members in hip hop culture —In graffiti artists, MCs and dancers – although the urban movement in general exceeds 300 people, including Skaters, bikers and street artists. “In Hip Hop culture we don’t look for fame or money, we seek to share who we are,” he said.
On the support of local authoritiesSaravia indicated that hip hop has had to open field in a society that stigmatizes this culture. “I think I was the only producer who worked for so many years to this day, from 2008, so that the Hip Hop culture It can have that visibility (…) it cost a lot to socialize it because they all stigmatized us associating ourselves with crime, “he lamented.
According to Saravia, the rap It goes far beyond the prejudices that associate it with empty messages or marginal life styles. For an authentic ’emcee’, the heart of rap is in the Power of the word: In transmitting a message with meaning, be it a protest, a reflection or a story that inspires. Reaching that level requires intellectual discipline; The ‘Emcee’ must read constantly, absorb information, expand its lexicon and nurture knowledge to be able to improvise or write letters that impact.
That same requirement is reflected in the other elements of the hip hop. He Breaking dancer You need to train to achieve solid physical and mental balance; The graffiti artist must sketch and practice until he defines his own style capable of capturing in a wall. Vash indicated that each discipline instills habits of study, perseverance and organization that, many times, Young people do not perceive immediately, but that they are the same as their families recommend: study, work, practice and improve.
The cultural manager announced that on August 23 there will be a event In the center of plurinational culture, one of the most important parties of the Hip Hop culture in the capital of Santa Cruz. “There are going to be boys who are going to compete, either in Graffiti, with Tags battles, pieces of pieces, in rap, freestyle battles, in breaking and breaking battles,” he said.
