Evento

Verbal Vanguard Awards

Willamette Weeks Best Hip-Hop Artists Unite for Summer Awards Show at historic theatre promoting the power of Rap Lyrics.

On Friday, June 30th 2017 the Portland Hip-Hop community will gather from all areas of the city to attend the 1st Annual Verbal Vanguard Awards Show. The event taking place atArtist Repertory Theatrewill showcase eclectic talent of all ages with unique flair. Unlike other award shows, these nominees will compete for titles in a three-round lyrical challenge called" E.Y.E. an abbreviation for "exercise your excellence". This competition is meant to demonstrate the sublime intellectual capacities needed to wield the shamanic powers of lyricism. Inspired by the icons of this meta-cultural, socially transformative tool called Hip Hop, participants and event curators are hyped around finally aligning grass roots movement with mainstream representation.

The event is being co-sponsored byPublic Eye Ministries, a Portland based non-profit organization providing direct GED education services to homeless youth through a Hip-Hop apprenticeship program called School of Urban Liberation (S.O.U.L.). The Public Eye has presented the popular Division Street Stories in addition to "Peoples Sanctuary" a theatrical presentation of global unity.

Also working together on this event are KBOO Radio and Galactic Star Entertainment.This event, hosted by the uniquely talented Jonny Cool is intended to unify significant artists who represent various community groups around the city. The event will also highlight well established artists such as Mic Crenshaw (2016 Willamette Week Best Hip Hop Artist),and others such as Rasheed Jamal and Quincy Davis whose music specifically addresses the police brutality,racism and other pressing issues of our time.

Admission is $20 and the competition is taking place at Artist Repertory Theatre on Friday, June 30th. During these hours 10 determined competitors will display their abilities for a secret panel of judges. Promptly at 7PM begins the award ceremony and showcase, which will culminate with the final round of the E.Y.E Performances. This night will prove to be one that creates an alternative from typical "Hip-Hop Battles, which often emphasize the disrespect ofanotherartist'svalue. The categories in the E.Y.E. competition solicit personal creativity and spontaneous mental fitness over degradation of anothers character. But,the competitive passion will be ever present in these hungry performers willing to risk the gauntlet for a chance to shine as a 2017 Verbal Vanguard.

The categories for theVerbal Vanguard Awards" are:

1 Verbal Vanguard 2017
2 Best Solo Performance
3 Freestyle Champion
4 Knowledge of Self Award
5 Hip-Hop Historian Award