Hip Hop, Chess & Life Strategies Event's Success Sets the Stage for Much More Ahead

Casual from Hieroglyphics Clashes with 8 Year Old "Zen Master"

While my good friend Adisa Banjoko is busy pushing the historical aspects of the first Hip Hop, Chess & Life Strategies Exhibition and Tournament in his latest press release, I'm much more interested in the fact that yesterday's event went off very well.

I talked to Adisa last night and have been in touch with him previously about the development of the event.  Though organized rather quickly, the Tournament sounds like it became a true community space in which all levels of participants were welcomed.  So one area might have DJ Qbert with his chess clock and another would have the equivalent of Chess 101 happening while straightforward challenges crowned the day.

DJ QBert Faces a Challenger

Part of why the event's success interests me is due to the fact that I've seen some really awful hip hop "business" gatherings descend into chaos and, ever since, I've been thinking through what it would take to make such gatherings work.  In this case, the community nature of the event prevailed.

Adisa felt that was partly due to emphasizing chess, welcoming all levels and, perhaps most importantly, not having an open mic or similar venue that would have put folks into best rapper mode.  What emerged was a very positive gathering that revealed the possibilities.  Now we'll see what Adisa and Leo Libiran, who is working with Adisa on getting things going online, can do with their Hip-Hop Chess Federation.

More photos at Holla at a Scholar!

Coverage by KCBS Radio.

(Photos Courtesy Shaminder Dulai)

Comments

[Jarrett]

Seems like the perfect set up for more hip-hop version of "Akeelah and the Bee."

If I had any money, I'd go in on it for real.

[Clyde Smith]

Wow, somebody actually saw Akeelah and the Bee!

lol

They're going nonprofit with this thing but I think it has huge potential either way.