Busted Fro, the next generation of young emcees and rappers will flow into USM this week to demonstrate their innovative style of hip-hop during a hip-hop education workshop and dance party on Friday, Feb. 8.
During the workshop they will discuss the history of hip-hop and deliver their message of black pride and racial equality, according to Jessica Zambrano, Coordinator for Multicultural Student Affairs. The event is in celebration of Black History Month.
“They rap about being proud of who you are in your racial identity,” she said. “They’ll discuss the history of hip-hop . who the important black artist are, as well as the forefathers of black music.”
These ideas might seem to contrast with those heard in today’s rap and hip-hop.
“We don’t often hear such empowering messages on the radio,” Zambrano said. Radio, she said, has always been geared toward white Americans. If blacks listened to such uplifting music they might become empowered and for once, “actually become equal in the system.”
According to their Web site, Busted Fro cites their influences as Kid Capri, Funkmaster Flex, and Kool Herc, to name a few. The group describes their style as “old school basics,” beats and quick raps crossed with futuristic production and vocabulary. They formed in 1993 while attending UMASS Amherst.
Busted Fro starts off at 2 p.m. with the hip-hop workshop followed by a dance party at 7 p.m., where they will perform songs from their latest CD. Both events will be held at the Woodbury Campus Center.
Contributing Writer Nicolette Harding can be contacted at: [email protected]