A cure for woes

By Eliza Escano, On-Line Forty-Niner

Wednesday, October 14, 1998

For those who think hip-hop is played out with its gun-toting, drug-smuggling, moneymaking messages, here are two words to cure their woes -- Foundation Funkollective.

Foundation Funk-ollective will be collaborating with the University Student Union Program Council on future hip-hop events that will take place on campus.

"We want to put a different spin on how hip-hop is perceived in this school," said Aaron Elimelich, programming assistant for USU Program Council. "We've done events that turned sour in the past. But this time, we want to show the more creative, positive side of the culture."

Foundation Funko-llective is an alliance of hip-hop artists made up primarily of, poets, emcees, turntablists, musicians, artists, aerosol muralists, breakdancers and community activists.

"The organization's mission is two-fold," said Jose Buktaw, also known as Dwenz and co-founder of Foundation. "It strives to unite and empowerer the community, as well as preserve and advace the original spirit of hip-hop culture."

The "original spirit" of hip-hop culture is based on four elements: disc jockeys (turntablism), emcees (spoken word), break dancers (dance) and graffiti artists (aerosol art).

These elements have ties to the culture and traditions of indigenous people, DJ's came from the West Indians living in the Bronx, who threw block parties in the late 1970s. The art of emceeing sprouted from the native oral traditions. Two examples would be the "griot" of African tribes and "balagtasan" of Filipinos. Breakdancers, also called b-boys and b-girls, execute moves rooting from a synthesis of capoera and Asian martial arts.

The nonprofit organization consists of individuals and groups from diverse ethnic, socio-political, cultural, ecomomic and roligious backgrounds.

"Chicanos, African-Americans, Filipinos and other people have all contributed to both hip-hop and progressive movements," Dwenz said. "Foundation represents that diversity in all our events."

Every Tuesday in Los Angeles and Wednesday in Pomona, the foundation organizes and event called "Open Mic...Open Mind." As one steps into the foundation's realm, one reahes a sensory stat incomparable to any other hip-hop function.

With all four elements boldly represented, heads cannot help but positively vibe. Huge canvasses of aerosol artwork with stimulation urban visuals drape against the walls.

The DJ begins the noght by spinning rar grooves and break beats. Demonstrating soulful and breaking moves are b-girls and b-boys. After the crowd warms up, acipher begins. A cipher, simply put, is a circlree of emcees who rotate on the microphone and display their lyrical rhymin g skills. Emcees are required to follow three rules: no excessive cursing. nodisrespect of women and no microphone hogging.

While other clubs aim to provide an escape for its patrons, the foundation does the exact opposite. It connects individuals to what is going down in society. Throughout the "Open Mic..." session, community organizers or activists are given the time to articulate hot political issues. Issues on chemical waste-dumping, Proposition 227 and police brutality are among present topics of discussion.

Dwenz terms this approach "edutainment" -- education through entertainment.

"I like the atmosphere that Foundation creates in its events," Elimelich said. "We want to bring the same vibe to Long Beach."

For more information on Foundation Funkollective events, call (818) 210-4514. Call (562) 985-5211 for information on USU events.