BY SIMONE J. SMITH

In the early 1970s, something magical sparked in the streets of the Bronx. Neighbourhood block parties transformed into musical revolutions, pulsating with beats, rhymes, and rhythms that would soon captivate the world, in a way that is still not understood. This raw energy, born from humble beginnings, laid the foundation for hip-hop. DJ Kool Herc, the pioneer of this movement, introduced breakbeats and ignited the art of DJing.

From these roots, four pillars emerged: DJing, emceeing, graffiti painting, and breakdancing. These elements intertwined, forming a unique subdivision of culture. The 1980’s witnessed the dawn of hip-hop’s “Golden Age.” Legends like: Grandmaster Flash, Run-DMC, and Public Enemy rose to prominence, forever shaping the genre’s future.

As the decade progressed, artists like DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince brought hip-hop into living rooms, proving its crossover potential. Regardless of your age, many readers born in North America will remember the clip from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”

The late 90s saw the rap scene dominated by titans like Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. Their powerful lyrics and iconic styles captivated audiences worldwide. As the millennium unfolded, hip-hop continued its ascent into mainstream pop culture. Nas, Busta Rhymes, and Missy Elliott, among others, showcased the genre’s versatility, topping charts with iconic hits. Producers like Dr. Dre and Timbaland further expanded the sonic landscape.

As I made my way through the Art Gallery of Ontario, my camera panned across the vibrant gallery space. Colorful paintings, sculptures, and video installations filled each room. A dazzling array of clothing and accessories were displayed on mannequins and in glass cases. Prepare to be immersed in the world of hip-hop, where music, fashion, and art collide in a dynamic and ever-evolving mosaic. I couldn’t help but stare in awe at a display case showcasing iconic sneakers, streetwear, and jewelry. I was amazed by a series of photographs documenting hip-hop culture in different global contexts.

From the streets to the galleries, hip-hop has empowered artists to challenge norms, question power structures, and celebrate individuality. This incredible exhibit delves into the themes of activism and racial identity, exploring how hip-hop has served as a powerful voice for social change. Visitors will have a chance to examine the aesthetics of “bling” and “swagger,” analyzing how these concepts have shaped perceptions of style and success. You will also explore the evolving roles of gender, sexuality, and feminism within the hip-hop landscape.

Welcome to “The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century” co-organized by the Baltimore Museum of Art and Saint Louis Art Museum and organized by the Art Gallery of Ontario.

This exhibition explores the multifaceted impact of hip-hop on visual culture, examining its influence on fashion, consumerism, and our understanding of identity.

Organized on the occasion of hip hop’s fiftieth anniversary and featuring contemporary art by some of today’s most important and celebrated artists, including: Derrick Adams, John Edmonds, Deana Lawson and Hank Willis Thomas, this dynamic and wide-ranging exhibition highlights the art form’s ongoing conceptual and material innovation.

The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century is co-curated by: Asma Naeem, the BMA’s Dorothy Wagner Wallis Director; Gamynne Guillotte, the BMA’s Chief Education Officer; Hannah Klemm, SLAM’s Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art; and Andréa Purnell, SLAM’s Audience Development Manager. The AGO presentation is organized by Julie Crooks, Curator, Arts of Global Africa and the Diaspora, AGO.

From block parties to global phenomenon, “The Culture” is a testament to hip hop’s resilience, creativity, and enduring cultural impact. With a new generation of artists constantly innovating, the future of hip-hop promises to be even brighter. Through: paintings, sculptures, photographs, music videos, and fashion, “The Culture” invites you to experience the dynamic energy and enduring legacy of hip-hop.

BY PAUL JUNOR

The announcement by the Doug Ford PC-led government of Ontario that it will introduce legislation to dismantle encampments across Ontario has triggered diverse responses. The letter was in response to letters from mayors across Ontario who are dealing with the encampment sites, and the challenges of dealing with homeless individuals. Many of these individuals are dealing with mental health and substance abuse challenges.

On Thursday, December 5^th, 2024, Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario shared his plans regarding ending encampments. He plans to put in place new initiatives with extra legislative powers in the future. The government hopes to ensure:

• Greater service manager accountability and alignment with provincial and local priorities.
• Additional funding to create more capacity in our shelter systems, supported by the new accountability measures to ensure these funds support dismantling encampments.
• Explicit and unequivocally prohibiting the use of illicit drugs in public, with new tools and authorities to help police enforce this prohibition.
• Enhanced penalties for people

There have been some updates with respect to the provincial plans. It was reported that Paul Calandra, Minister of Housing told reporters, “I just do not agree with those who believe that a park is a place where people with mental health and addictions are best served. If service managers are incapable, or unwilling to make the changes that are needed to ensure that we deal with this situation in an effective manner then we’ll take further steps.”

Marit Stiles, Leader of Ontario NDP states, “I’m going to wait to see this bill. Once again, we’re seeing an 11^th hour attempt to come forward with something that they actually have no intention of passing. Nobody wants encampments in our communities, but this is the legacy of Doug Ford. Ontarians know the solution isn’t to arrest people living in those parks, it’s to actually have shelters, support, and housing.”

Bonnie Crombie, leader of the Ontario Liberals expressed concerns about a last-ditch attempt to put an ill-thought plan in place. She states, “It is not okay to clear people from the street without somewhere to put them that is safe, where they’ll be getting the help and treatment they need.” Crombie is concerned about the lack of strategic planning by the government. She states further, “It needs a coordinated strategy, not left up to the mayors of each municipality to deal with it on their own. These are the discussions the mayors have when they come together. How are you dealing with it? What’s been working? Have you built tiny homes? Were you able to open your armories, your community centres, church basements?”

On Thursday, December 12^th, 2024, the Ontario government issued a press release in which it revealed details about its plans. The government will be investing $75.5 million to end encampments and crack down on public use of illegal drugs as part of its homelessness prevention plan.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford states “Mayors and residents from communities across Canada have been clear that enough is enough when it comes to encampments and illegal drug use in our parks and playgrounds. Families deserve to enjoy their local parks and playgrounds without fearing for their kids. People facing homelessness, or addiction and mental health challenges should be supported in the right settings. The federal government’s approach of legalizing dangerous drugs for use in our communities has failed and it needs to end.”

The government will spend $75.5 million to fund long-term stable housing and temporary accommodations for individuals who reside in encampments. $44.5 million is new provincial funding and $31 million will be taken from the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative.

Several mayors from Ontario have expressed endorsement for the proposed plan. They include:

• Patrick Brown (Mayor Brampton)
• Josh Morgan (Mayor of London)
• Dan Carter (Mayor of Oshawa)
• Drew Dilkens (Mayor of Windsor)
• Rob Burton (Mayor of Town of Oakville)
• Paul Lefebvre (Mayor of Greater Sudbury)
• Alex Nuttal (Mayor of Barrie)
• Cam Guthrie (Mayor of City of Guelph)
• Jan Liggett (Mayor of Cambridge)
• Mat Siscoe (Mayor of St. Catherines)
• Bryan Paterson (Mayor of Kingston)
• Kevin Davis (Mayor of Brantford)
• Jim Diodati (Mayor of Niagara falls)
• Kevin Ashe (Mayor of City of Pickering)
• Don McIsaac (Mayor of Orillia)
• Bill Gordon (Mayor of Midland)

BY STEVEN KASZAB

In 2021-2022 Ontario’s school boards spent $28.8 Billion dollars. Approximately two million students were enrolled in public school, of which 1.4 million were enrolled in elementary school and 605,000 in secondary schools. These costs have risen as have all costs affecting the public’s cost of living and costs to do business. Education is an essential service, yet the provincial government does not treat it as such. The very education system is controlled and manipulated by various teachers’ unions, whose influence continues to grow as too their opposition to the Ontario Conservative Parties attempts to manage and apply cost controls upon them.

There are French public schools and boards. Their autonomy is protected by the constitution. Costs within all fields of education continue to spin out of control, while various school boards compete for much needed skilled workers to fill employment slots. Many schools are in disrepair and/or on a waitlist to be repaired and maintained. Permanent air conditioning is basically non-existent, so the two months of vacation in summer remains a driving policy for this and other provincial governments.

Lackluster treatment of the school systems problems remains central to all governments, and discussions continue, while piecemeal solutions are provided.

What do you think needs to be done? I have a few thoughts.

• Use notwithstanding clauses to change the constitutional status of the necessity of public schools to pay for French immersion and French schools. French schools should become a private business affair, and not a public-school problem. Learning French is a choice that should require a cost to those who participate.
• Government owned and operated construction firms need to be responsible for the maintenance and building of schools, taking away profitable building costs from private developers. Build with imagination, not absolute necessity as is being done.
• The teacher’s cartel needs to be broken. Teaching is a profession of service, not a guaranteed lifetime employment opportunity. Boards and the Ministry need to be able to: scrutinize, investigate, and project their expectations upon the teacher’s performance, not the other way round where a teachers union calls the shots
• Propaganda such as “We are doing it for the kids” needs to be limited and properly understood by the public. The union represents adult teachers and employee’s, not children. They care about the financial welfare of their membership and no one else.
• In areas where schooling is limited, because of lack of funding, isolation, or demographic challenges, schools should be able to evolve to private school mode, attracting funding not from the public, but from private concerns. A school’s independence is dependent upon its location. Each location is distinctly different and needs things that can solve problems not seen in other regions, or locals.
• An insurance policy should be provided to parents and guardians of students ensuring the students will receive all necessary education. If not, the parents need to be compensated. Schooling is limited in time and scope, so a student lost, not taught well is cause for investigation and authoritative treatment of those responsible for the teaching of a student. Teachers need to be absolutely responsible for the product they help form and teach the student.
• All digital or A.I. centered products must not be used in school until their senior years. The manual ability to use one’s brain, solve problems by thought and on paper is needed. The return of the three “R’s’ is required.
• Teachers are not: police, therapists, or social workers; they are there to teach! Each school needs an independent therapist, police officers and possibly social workers on a permanent basis. Police intermingle within the social fabric of the school while protecting both students and teachers. Therapists assist both school bodies as well. Social service workers would assist in the ever-increasing demands of the schools changing demographic.
• The translation of our world’s realities must be explained to our students. How and why must be a part of the conversation. This is Ontario, where issues are dealt with in an orderly and adult fashion. No censorship, involvement of outside lobbyists and religious institutions unless we discuss the Catholic School Board. Religion in public schools needs to remain separate from all school operations.
• The government needs to change our association with the Catholic School Board, the services Ontario is responsible to provide. Education requires a unity of purpose, and not a separation of thought and effort. The sale of the Catholic Board to the Roman Catholic Church in Ontario may be a wise investment for the future. If the Catholics have their own school board, why not the Muslims, Buddhist? Unity is not assured through religious diversity in training our children but can lead to future conflict and mistrust.

The teachers are employed to teach our kids. The school boards are elected and paid well to ensure that happens. The Education Ministry is responsible for all groups involved. Why can’t the system produce educated students ready to compete within the world economy?