HIP HOP CHICAGO brings together 26 extraordinary artists, including musicians St. Bagu, Sidewalk Chalk, and N.VS, and breakin’ crews Stick and Move, Robot M.A.F.I.A., Awesome Style Konnectionz, Stylin’ Out, and Thee Authentic Fewsion, to celebrate the best of Chicago hip hop culture.

The group will present a showcase of authentic beats, rhymes and moves that blend signature hip hop elements with American and international influences such as classical, jazz, blues, funk, house, popping, locking, acrobatics and kung fu. The artists come from diverse backgrounds, mirroring the cultural mix of Chicago, a city celebrated for its diversity and immigrant traditions.

Join us Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 6:30pm at Millennium Park’s Pritzker Pavilion, in the heart of downtown Chicago, for this hip hop blowout!

(To learn more about the artists who performed with Hip Hop ChicaGO at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, China, please click here.)

MUSICIANS

St. Bagu
(Tony Pozdol, Freddy Bustamante, Moises Pacheco, Chi Can To, David Opio, Jason Alamo, Aaron Lopez)
A live hip hop fusion band, St. Bagu succeeds in mixing elements of various musical genres in ways that not only innovate, but motivate.

Sidewalk Chalk
(Tyler Berg, Charlie Coffeen, Sam “Trump” Harris, Garrett McGinn, David Ben-Porat, Rico Sisney, Jumaane Taylor, Margaret Vagle)
The Chicago Reader‘s “Best Local Hip Hop Act of 2010″ blends jazz, soul, and hip hop for a new sound that knows no shelf life.

N.VS
(Nick Woolley)
From Oregon to Chicago N.VS has made his name as a producer, emcee, DJ, engineer and documentarian, performing solo and with jazz/hip hop band Actual Rhinoceros and the Chicago x Oregon power-house FangTshida.

Chris Paquette
Musician and percussionist Paquette has shared the stage and recorded with a who’s who of contemporary artists and is currently at work on two albums of his own.

FEATURED B-BOYS & B-GIRLS

Super InLight
(Jonathan St. Clair)
The spirited co-founder and director of Stick and Move Dance Crew travels nationally and internationally, performing, teaching, and sharing real hip hop and hip hop dance to audiences of all ages and cultural and educational backgrounds.

Monty
(Monternez Rezell)
Stick and Move Dance Crew’s co-artistic director uses his love and passion for dance as a tool to encourage, motivate, and enlighten the world about the true positive aspects of hip hop culture.

Jahmilah Alazam
Jahmilah’s trained in modern, tap, ballet, jazz, and jazz funk, but she’s best known for the “fresh urban experience” she creates through hip hop and breakdancing.

BraveMonk
(Daniel Haywood)
Awesome Style Konnectionz crew member BraveMonk is an eclectic, passionate, and energetic soul whose dance was inspired by Gung-Fu, his older siblings, and various street dance styles.

Kid Jungle
(Sengvilay Aphay)
Kid Jungle is a teaching artist, mentor, professional dancer, and performer with Thee Authentic Fewsion and Awesome Style Konnectionz.

J Funky
(Jonathan Mayuga)
Known for his explosive tricks and original style, Stylin’ Out Crew’s J Funky is a talented young b-boy who was born to break.

SPECIALTY DANCERS

Bboy Twigg
(Ryley Mikos)
An up-and-coming Chicago bboy, Twigg brings his skills and passion to every show with Stylin’ Out Crew.

Poppin’ Chuck
(Charles Bledsoe)
Poppin’ and lockin’ since the ‘80s, the Robot M.A.F.I.A. member is also a respected graffiti artist and muralist in L.A. and Chicago.

Kobra King
(Patrick White)
Kobra King began his legacy as one of Chicago’s poppin’ legends in 1979 and never stopped, currently performing with Robot M.A.F.I.A. and Thee Authentic Fewsion.

Yah-Unity Israel
A passionate, spirited, powerful, and authentic artist, Yah-Unity specializes in modern, ballet, and hip hop and performs with Red Clay Dance Company in Chicago.

Chris Limitless
(Chris J. Hooker)
Chris brings an eclectic and fresh perspective to self-expression through his work as a multimedia artist, musician, and martial artist.

Professor Morrao
(Joshua Granger)
Practicing capoeira since 1994, Professor Morrao has trained in Brazil and teaches and performs throughout the Chicago area.

Disco Stew
Disco Stew is a Chicago bboy and member of Stick and Move Dance Crew.