The NW Hip Hop Parade Troop is the Northwest’s one-and-only Hip Hop parade troop, a festive and innovative approach in showcasing Hip Hop culture to the public. The troop consists of a people's march, b-boys and b-girls (dancers), a 3-dimensional graffiti float with emcees and deejays. The troop will unite once again at this year's Umoja Festival, Saturday, August 1st.
Vision
One of today's major influences among youth and adults across the globe is Hip-Hop. It is recognized as an authentic culture, with music, dance, art, language, fashion, principles, and other cultural elements combined that not only entertains, but also educates, and impacts millions of lives.
Once the music industry and mainstream media began to use Hip-Hop as a marketing tool, it eventually became billion dollar industry. This initiated a power shift from the spirit of innovation to those willing to sacrifice artistic integrity in favor of a more profit driven buisness model.
The resulted current climate of media perpetuates immoral and intellectually difficient standards for society. Hip Hop is being commodified.
This parade troop aims to spread awareness by educating the masses about the culture, dispelling the negative misconceptions that it receives by focusing on Hip Hop's fundamental qualities of Self-Empowerment, Identity, Peace, Love, Unity, and Having Fun.
We acknowledge Hip Hop as an uplifting culture that influences and heals millions of lives through the artistic expressions of music, art, and dance.
As guardians of Hip Hop, we aim to preserve its History/Herstory, integrity, and assist in the nurturing of a healthy and progressive culture so that it may continue to unify and empower people of all walks of life.
We march in solidarity to demonstrate the strength of our community.
About Umoja Festival
Umoja Festival is the Northwest’s oldest and largest Black Community Festival. Continuing the tradition that began over 50 years ago with the "Seattle Mardi Gras Parade" the parade features drill teams, African drum & dance, masquerades, floats, youth and community organizations and more. The parade will begin at 23rd & Union and travel south on 23rd Avenue to the festival grounds at Judkins Park. For more information, click HERE.
3rd Annual
NW Hip Hop Parade Troop Presented by 206 Zulu
Umoja Parade & Festival 2009
23rd Ave & Union St. to Judkin’s Park
On Saturday, August 1st, 2009 witness history/herstory in the making as people from all areas of the Northwest gather to participate in the 3rd Annual Northwest Hip Hop Parade Troop. This parade troop, presented by 206 Zulu, the Seattle chapter of the Universal Zulu Nation, along with the greater Northwest Hip Hop community, will participate at Umoja Fest, the Northwest’s largest and longest-lasting African Heritage Festival & Parade.
The Northwest Hip Hop Parade Troop aims to showcase the rich and diverse Hip Hop community to the public while dispelling the misperceptions that Hip Hop often receives, due to negative press and its portrayal in the mainstream media outlets. King Khazm, the 206 Zulu Chapter Leader notes that “Hip Hop is a way for people to make something positive from a negative. It is rooted from a necessity to make change and has been the foundation to uplift and empower people around the world. This is a time for Seattle Hip Hop to stand together and show the people what we stand for: Peace, Love, Unity and Having Fun!”
Furthermore, because of the international impact Hip Hop culture has on the youth, it has become a universal culture that transcends the boundaries of race, age, beliefs, social status, gender, locality and continues to be a vital component for self-expression, finding identity, and education. Within the culture of Hip Hop, there are four main elements of expression - Deejaying, Emceeing, B-Boying/B-Girling (aka Breakdancing) and Graffiti Artistry.
To represent these four elements, the Hip Hop Parade Troop will showcase a float with Graffiti artwork, live performances by Deejays, Emcees, B-boys & B-girls, and a People's March. The Umoja Fest will also feature drill teams, African drum & dance, masquerades, floats, youth groups and other community organizations to continue with the tradition of the "Seattle Mardi Gras Parade" that began over 50 years ago. The parade will begin at 1pm on 23rd Avenue & Union and travel south on 23rd to the festival grounds located at Judkins Park.
If you are a practitioner or a supporter of Hip Hop and would like to march or become involved with this monumental event, please contact us at kwu@wickedx.net. For more information on Umoja Fest Parade & Festival, check out www.umojafamilyfest.com.
Northwest Hip Hop Parade Troop Presented by 206 Zulu - UZN Seattle Chapter Umoja Fest 2009 Saturday, August 1st @ 12pm Contact: Kitty Wu kwu@wickedx.net
NW Hip Hop Parade Troop 2008, courtesy of Coolout TV
Get Involved
Are you interested in contributing to this event? The success of this parade troop depends on community participation, we need your support! There are several opportunities for involvement with varying levels of commitment. If you would like to be a part of the People's March, click HERE. Are you interested in performing? Click HERE. Would you like to be a community partner or sponsor this event? Click HERE. If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, contact us at kwu@wickedx.net.
