Local heroes team up with hip-hop legends for a community conversation
DENVER — On Lipan Street in Denver, visitors can hear and feel a thunderous beat coming from an inconspicuous building. Inside, breakdancers, MCs, and artists are all letting their creativity flow as they dance, vibe and celebrate.
Adam Dent, a Denver native, is an MC who has been active in the city’s hip-hop scene for over 30 years. He has collaborated with local b-boys, his childhood friends and now, with the new generation of artists.
“We took a little hip- hop oath when we were in high school that we will always, forever represent. And, you know, I'm always doing it,” Dent said.
Dent is a lyrical artist who chooses to mend and mold words over a thumping beat. Dent believes that music comes from the soul, and that controlling the vibe of the party as a party-rocking MC is essential to how people view the space and the music.
“So my style is just classic boom-bap, you know, raw rhymes — they don’t call me Dent for anything,” Dent explained.
Because his art is the result of a collaboration with so many people, Dent finds himself in the Spot 2.0, which holds dance lessons for kids, churches and also parties.
Inspired by a now-closed business called the Spot that visitors saw as an urban recreation center, the Spot 2.0 aims to replicate that sense of belonging, in a place where people can let loose in peace — on one of the walls within the building, a mural says, “No Mo Violence Dance.”
Dent makes sure his work and music reflects that.
On September 17, Dent will participate in SoJo: Social Justice Community Conversation & Concert, hosted by 104.7 THE DROP at Levitt Pavilion. Tickets are available here. (THE DROP, like Rocky Mountain PBS, is part of Rocky Mountain Public Media).
The event will include conversations about social justice, all the while celebrating 50 years of hip-hop.
[Related: Hip-hop at 50: A history of explosive musical and cultural innovation]
Local artists such as Dent and The Reminders will be joined by legends Chuck D of Public Enemy and Talib Kweli of Black Star to share a love for hip-hop and its influence on the community.
“We have some good things going on within our city. And it's a beautiful thing. And I'm humbled because they're really like the only station that's really representing support and, you know, local hometown heroes,” Dent said of THE DROP. “And I'm just a piece of the puzzle, bro.”
Through this event, Dent hopes that people are able to not only have a good time, but also learn from the forefathers of hip-hop and create a sense of belonging.
He looks to the future as he hopes that SoJo and his music will speak to a younger generation.
“Now it's all about giving back and, you know, helping to form and teach the craft to the younger cast,” Dent said.
Peter Vo is a multimedia journalist at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach him at petervo@rmpbs.org.