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CALGARY HIP HOP

By Nolan Henry (Mount Royal College) 

Although Calgary may be known as the mecca of all that’s country and western, its own hip hop culture continues to flourish and exert its influence in the community, said rapper/DJ Eddie Duenas.

“It’s really catching on here,” Duenas said, pointing to the likes of Calgary’s DJ Pump, who is Canada’s reigning turntablist champion at the DMC competition, and the success of shops like Ferochus, which specializes in hip hop and electronic records as well as culture-focused fashion.

“Hip hop’s impact has become universal: it reaches all areas of life.” Duenas said, “And it is the medium to reach the youth.”

But despite hip hop’s rise as the most lucrative genre in music, it still carries a negative stigma. 

And with all that’s negative in hip hop culture receiving maximum coverage, it can be deflating for those who know its less publicized good side, like rapper Tarik Robinson, who thinks slanted coverage will only change when the old guard does.

Robinson does not deny that much of the art is deeply “rooted in nastiness”, and he is quick to point out that the “negativity of the artists is reflected in the culture.”

But according to Robinson, the bad messages in hip hop will only change when the artists do.

“It has the ability to convey a message like no other music can,” Robinson said.

The affect hip hop has had in Calgary has been primarily positive though, as Robinson says it brings people together with an instant bond.

“It’s creating a subculture of kids who love the music,” Robinson said. 

“They have an instant bond.”

And even the Liberty Lounge has made more room for hip hop artists to express themselves.

In an effort to accommodate more styles of music, the Lounge has made greater strides to put on hip hop shows this year, said the vice president of activities Aric Johnson.

“We’ve made an effort to incorporate that kind of music because we know not everyone likes rock music”, Johnson said “We want to be as diverse as possible.”