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September, 2010

Breakdance / China / Monty / Music / World Expo — No Comments
21
Sep 10

Day 2 at Shanghai World Expo

By: Monty Rezell (of Stick and Move Dance Crew)

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, Hip Hop ChicaGO rocks the World Expo…again! Another amazing night. Tonight’s performance was even better than yesterday. The crowd was hyped and loving every bit of it! All elements of the show were ten times better tonight. The DJ, emcee, b-boys and b-girl, and the band were all excellent. This was a great experience performing in Shanghai. I enjoyed every moment of it and am feeling a little down because this trip is coming to an end L But no worries; Hip Hop ChicaGO will be at it again soon. We were already invited back to perform at a leadership conference next year.

We have great footage of the show! Stayed tuned for that. We will have it up ASAP. The setting was intense backstage when the dancers had to rework a few scenes because we were unsure if two dancers would make it back from a demonstration for the City of Chicago and alumni from Chicago universities. Five minutes before the show Joleethal and J Funky arrived back stage, just in time to get dressed, pray, and hop on stage for the start of the show. They made it just in time, and all the dancers ripped the show and danced better than I have seen all week! From backspins to windmills, from swipes to headspins, from freezes to flips, the dancers were FRESH to DEF! Our flares had FLARE, our tops really ROCKED! Couldn’t have asked for a better show.

From the bass kick to the strum of the guitar, from the bassline to the stroke of the keys, St. Bagu was amazing and rocked the crowd so well. They had an angelic unity in the music tonight. They were so unified that when the DJ had technical issues, the band filled in and played for the dancers without discussion or planning. They really stepped up and saved the day! All in all we had a wonderful time and a wonderful performance representing Chicago at the World Expo 2010!

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China / Music / N.VS / World Expo — No Comments
21
Sep 10

Technical Difficulties

By: DJ N.VS

Getting ready to leave. Seems crazy to think that we could end up being back here next year. We all started as strangers and are leaving as family. We rocked four Expo shows, each better than the next. We probably rocked for at least 300+ people last night.

For a minute it was looking like one thing after the next continued to go wrong for me with gear while I was out here. Jungle joked to me at one point, “Damn, I wish I was the DJ so I could just be drinking a beer.” But after having to deal with all the equipment issues that came up on this trip, I don’t wish it on anybody else.

The day before the first show I pulled out my deck and mixer to practice and make sure nothing was damaged. I set everything up, went to plug the mixer in, and…”Hssssssssssss.” Smoke started coming from the mixer’s adapter. “Sh*t.” The question now was, Is it just the adapter that’s fried or did the whole mixer fry?

Mind you this is THE DAY BEFORE the show.

After heading to an electrical repair joint that night we found out that it’s the mixer that got fried. Now, 14 hours before the show, I have no mixer, leaving Hip Hop ChicaGO with no DJ. After a grip of phone calls Yuchia was able to secure a mixer rental from the Expo. (Yuchia, you’re a superhero!)

First Day: Problem solved, two successful shows.

Second day: More problems arise.

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China / Music / N.VS / Rico Sisney / St. Bagu / Video / World Expo — No Comments
21
Sep 10

“Time Freeze” Moments at the Shanghai World Expo

By: Jason Alamo (drummer from the band St. Bagu)

There are few moments in life where everything slows down around you and you begin to wonder how exactly you ended up at that moment. As the drummer for St.Bagu and Hip Hop ChicaGO I have the advantage of seeing the performances from a unique point of view. It is as if I am part audience, part performer. While dancers spin in circles and emcees run to rile up crowds on different sides of the stage, I am stationary and have a complete 180 degree view of the performance and the audience simultaneously. I spent the whole set at last night’s music showcase on the Shanghai World Expo’s Americas Square stage frozen in time, trying to break down all the things that fell into place to bring this amazing group of people together. Never in my life did I think I would be in a band and share a stage with 8 breakdancers, an MC, and a DJ and ROCK a crowd halfway around the world.

Yesterday almost seemed effortless. I say almost because after the music showcase we began the next showcase with the complete Hip Hop ChicaGO crew. The crowd was warmed up and ready to see some great dancing. Everything was going well until we hit a snag when the DJ’s mixer went out. People were scrambling back and forth trying to figure out how to compensate. The band was ready to go and fill in wherever necessary. Luckily the mixer came back to life and we were able to keep the damage minimal. The Hip Hop ChicaGO crew came together and was able to put on yet another great performance. All the b-boys and b-girl were awesome. We all had a feeling it was going to be a special day.

We woke up yesterday morning to Ambrose on the front page of the Shanghai Daily. Hip Hop ChicaGO in Chinese newspapers overnight? Time freeze moment.  It got better after that. After a few hours of shopping at one of the local markets, Tony, Freddy, and I took the train back to our hotel. As we exited Freddy looked up at one of the TVs playing the local news and shouted, “That’s us!!” Hip Hop ChicaGO was on the local Chinese news station? Time freeze moment.

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Bake Phouikham / Breakdance / China / Video — No Comments
21
Sep 10

Shanghai Breakdance Scene

By: Freddy Bustamante (vocalist from the band St. Bagu)

Here’s a view into the b-boy scene in Shanghai, China, as our Chicago-bred dancers embraced the culture in a dance jam at Fudan University. Check out the clip by our videographer extraordinaire, Bake Phouikham.

Chicago / China / Media / Photos / Rico Sisney — No Comments
20
Sep 10

Columbia Chronicle: “Hip-hop crew represents at World Expo”

The Columbia Chronicle, Columbia College Chicago’s student newspaper, also showed us some love today! Check out what Nancy Tom and Ramona Gupta of the Center for Asian Arts and Media and MC Rico Sisney had to say about this amazing project:

Hip-hop crew represents at World Expo
Columbia b-boys and musicians perform in Shanghai, China
By Katy Nielsen

Stick and Move Dance Crew

Hip Hop ChicaGO was chosen to represent Chicago at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, China.

Sixteen performers representing Columbia are in China during the week of Sept. 19 to perform at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai. Hip Hop ChicaGO, a project developed by Columbia’s Center for Asian Arts and Media, offers a new approach to Asian studies and is bringing international attention to Columbia.

The 2010 World Expo lasts 184 days and connects more than 200 nations and 10 million spectators. Hip Hop ChicaGO is part of the Expo’s Chicago Days, which last from Sept. 16–20. Columbia’s President Warrick L. Carter is expected to attend.

“It is definitely a big deal for us,” said Ramona Gupta, program coordinator of the Center for Asian Arts and Media.

Soul and gospel singer, songwriter Otis Clay and Columbia’s Executive Director of the Asian Arts and Media Center Nancy Tom were chosen by the city of Chicago to form a team for the Expo.

Tom said she wanted to showcase the city’s wide range of talented performers.

“The reason I chose hip-hop was because I am fascinated that Asia is so into this,” Tom said. “I educated myself on how I could teach young people about other cultures.”

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China / Monty / Photos / St. Bagu / World Expo — No Comments
20
Sep 10

We Rocked It! They Loved Us!

By: Monty Rezell (of Stick and Move Dance Crew)

Hip Hop ChicaGO from Chi to Shanghai! We rocked our first set of shows! The crowd loved us. China loved us! We got invited back to perform here in Shanghai again next year! Successful first day of shows. One more day to go! I am proud of us, happy we had fun and grateful we performed well. Looking forward to performing again tomorrow at the Americas Square.

The performance was great, but this is what made my day: We are on the bus traveling back to the hotel. We look to the right and walking down the street is a Korean guy wearing a Stick and Move Dance Crew shirt! I shouted, “Hey, that’s a Stick and Move shirt!” Imagine this…we are in China, we have never been here, and we don’t sell our shirts online yet. So how did this guy get a shirt with our logo? It was authentic! We shouted to him through the bus window, and he shouted back with excitement after he figured out we were telling him we were Stick and Move and he was wearing our shirt. Turns out he trains with Ben, one of our members who moved to Korea to teach English for a year. Amazing right? He was walking down that street, where we were, wearing our shirt! Classic!

Shanghai World Expo warmly welcomes you

Americas Square stage at Shanghai World Expo

St. Bagu at Americas Square at Shanghai World Expo

Ambrose McDuffy / Breakdance / China / Media / Photos / World Expo — 1 Comment
20
Sep 10

Shanghai Daily: “Chicago, my kinda town”

We got some nice coverage in today’s Shanghai Daily newspaper:

Chicago, my kinda town
Created: 2010-9-20
Author:Yao Min-G

Ambrose McDuffy at Shanghai World Expo

Ambrose McDuffy at Shanghai World Expo (courtesy of Shanghai Daily)

CHICAGO, a city known for its diversity, arts and entertainment, made its presence at the Expo yesterday with Hip Hop Chicago, singer Otis Clay and sculptor Virginio Ferrari.

They are all based in Chicago, the birthplace of house music and one of the most influential bases of hip-hop culture. Hip Hop Chicago and Clay performed at the Americas Square yesterday while Ferrari unveiled his Expo-inspired sculpture “The Family,” a work made of stainless steel and bronze.

The musicians will have more shows today and tomorrow at the Americas Square and USA Pavilion. The sculpture will stay permanently as part of the Riverside Landscaping Belt sculpture project.

“I’m really glad to put my sculpture at this site,” Ferrari told Shanghai Daily. “I checked the site many times to make sure that my sculpture would fit right in with the environment around it.

“The Family” was selected as one of 24 permanent works from more than 800 candidates. Ferrari was the only American artist to have his work selected.

The work is composed of nine elements, as he takes into consideration the significance of the number nine in Chinese culture. The two central figures, hugging each other, are a father and mother while the surrounding seven pieces are extended members of the family.

“It reflects the importance of the family and our relationships with each other, which makes up the fabric of our experiences within every city and our every day lives,” Ferrari said.

Chicago, a sister city to Shanghai, is famous for its vivid music scene and Hip Hop Chicago represents the city’s trend-setting, edgy scene while soul and gospel singer Otis Clay shows off a taste for more traditional genres.

‘Amazing diversity’

“What we want to present to Chinese visitors is the amazing diversity of Chicago, which draws people of all heritages and backgrounds,” a representative of Hip Hop Chicago said.

Hip Hop Chicago comprises four separate groups with a total of 16 artists, including a DJ, rapper and a break dancer.

Hip Hop Chicago had an informal jam session with around 80 hip hop dancers from Fudan University last week. They were curious about the differences with their Chinese peers and were surprised to see almost none. The Fudan dancers just jumped in naturally as if they were part of the group.

“Hip hop is big in Asia now, so we hope young Chinese people will become interested in Chicago through these extraordinary hip hop artists,” the same representative said.

Meanwhile, Clay is now in the 50th year of his professional career. He is active in blues, soul, jazz and gospel music.

Nominated for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance at the 2007 Grammy Awards, Clay has also brought his band to Shanghai for his China debut.

“I would definitely love to come back again,” Clay said.

Breakdance / China / Inlight / Monty / Photos — No Comments
20
Sep 10

Kung Fu in Yuyuan Garden

By: Monty Rezell (of Stick and Move Dance Crew)

Yuyuan Garden…We had too much fun here! Kung Fu in the Garden was funny, fun, entertaining for everyone who stopped to watch and take pictures of us. Here are a few of the photos from our Adventure in YuYuan Garden! Enjoy.

P.S. I love my new Hanfu robe (Mandarin-style Kung Fu attire).

Yuyuan Garden Yuyuan Garden Yuyuan Garden Yuyuan Garden Yuyuan Garden Yuyuan Garden Yuyuan Garden Yuyuan Garden Yuyuan Garden Yuyuan Garden Yuyuan Garden Yuyuan Garden

Breakdance / China / Inlight / Monty / Photos / Yah-Unity Israel — No Comments
20
Sep 10

Stick and Move Dance in the Market

By: Monty Rezell (of Stick and Move Dance Crew)

Good times in the market! Doing what we do! Dancing in the Market and downtown in the square drew a crowd! But of course we were not surprised! Everyone wanted to take a picture with us! It was funny because they would follow us around and snap away or just circle around and suddenly you just see a bunch of flashes happen at once.

Monty Rezell of Stick and Move Dance Crew Jonathan "Inlight" St. Clair of Stick and Move Dance Crew Monty Rezell of Stick and Move Dance Crew Yah-Unity Israel of Stick and Move Dance Crew Monty Rezell of Stick and Move Dance Crew Monty Rezell of Stick and Move Dance Crew Yah-Unity Israel of Stick and Move Dance Crew Jonathan "Inlight" St. Clair of Stick and Move Dance Crew Monty Rezell of Stick and Move Dance Crew Jonathan "Inlight" St. Clair of Stick and Move Dance Crew Monty Rezell of Stick and Move Dance Crew Jonathan "Inlight" St. Clair of Stick and Move Dance Crew Jonathan "Inlight" St. Clair of Stick and Move Dance Crew Jonathan "Inlight" St. Clair of Stick and Move Dance Crew Fruit at a Shanghai market

China / St. Bagu / Video / World Expo — No Comments
19
Sep 10

Shanghai World Expo, Day 1

By: Tony Pozdol (vocalist from the band St. Bagu)

Hello, kind people of the world. I hope this post finds you well. Our stay in Shanghai continues and so do our updates on just what the heck is going on out here. So let’s get on with it.

Yesterday was our first day of live performance at the World Expo. It was the culmination of months of hard work and practices, different groups of Chicago artists coming together to present one cohesive set highlighting different elements of hip hop. St. Bagu, the live hip hop band. Rico, our good friend, the excellent emcee. Nick, aka N.V.S, playing DJ and hypeman role to the fullest. And then the dance crews executing choreography and b-boy moves that really wowed the crowd. The Shanghai people ate it up.

I have known about the Shanghai trip for a while. It never fully set in, till we got off the plane. It never fully set in that we were really in China till we hit the market on day two of our stay. And yesterday was the day we were finally able to do what we came to do. Perform, entertain, inspire. And I believe we all did just that.

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