Community News
Creating a vibrant tapestry of Hip Hop’s journey; Celebrating 50 years of Hip Hop
BY SIMONE J. SMITH
Canadian hip-hop holds significant cultural and artistic importance, which has contributed to both the global hip-hop movement and Canada’s own cultural identity. While perhaps not as well-known internationally as American hip-hop, Canadian hip-hop has steadily grown in prominence and influence.
Canadian hip-hop provides a platform for the diverse voices and experiences of Canada’s multicultural population, especially the Caribbean population. Artists have used the genre to express their unique perspectives, contributing to a rich tapestry of narratives within the country’s cultural landscape.
Like hip-hop around the world, Canadian hip-hop often serves as a form of social commentary. Artists address issues such as inequality, racism, urban struggles, and other social and political concerns, sparking important conversations and raising awareness. Over the years, several Canadian hip-hop artists have gained recognition and success on a global scale. Names like Maestro Fresh Wes, Drake, The Weeknd, Tory Lanez, Solitair, and Kardinal Official have achieved commercial and critical acclaim, contributing to the genre’s international reputation.
On Friday August 11th, 2023, the world celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop, and two incredible women: Jonsaba Jabbi and Alannah Johnson have taken their love of hip hop to a new level. They cofounded Building A Black Archive (BABA), a grassroots community initiative dedicated to promoting and preserving African-Canadian histories and experiences. They recently shared with the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper their collaboration with the Queens Public Library in New York City and The Gates Preserve to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a hip hop head. I have always felt akin to this genre, and it brings back pleasant memories of Rap City day’s and making sure I caught the latest episode of Xtendamix with Master T. When I received this story, I reached out to Jonsaba and Alannah, and we had a great discussion celebrating a genre that we all loved.
“What sparked the idea of Building A Black Archive,” I inquired?
“This started for us in 2019,” Jonsaba shares with me. “We have a mutual friend who connected us with our love of Black History, and I reached out to Alannah over Facebook. We found out that we are both half-Grenadian. There was these six degrees of separation that was incredible. We decided to go on this journey together, so we started Building A Black Archive. BABA means father or Elder in many African cultures, which is fitting. We bonded over Canadian Hip Hop, and the lack of archives.”
“We focus on contemporary Black History,” Alannah chimed in. “It is unfortunate that when we are learning about our history, we are reduced to a certain area of study (slavery). Part of our work is to unearth and document contemporary Black Canadian histories and experiences as well as histories and experiences within the African diaspora. Our work includes workshops, speaking engagements, community archival work, consultations and an annual artist residency program for Black artists.
“How did you manage to connect with Queens Public Library, and The Gates Preserve?”
“It was in June 2023,” Alannah shares. “We were wrapping up a youth residency in which we were teaching them the tools of archiving. We really wanted to go to New York, they do a lot more archiving than we do. We were introduced to Syreeta Gates (Gates Preserve – Queens New York), and we learned about Queens Public Library, one of the largest multicultural and diverse library systems in the United States.
Syreeta told us about all the work that she was doing with The Gates Preserve, a multimedia company committed to archiving and repurposing hip hop, and she invited BABA to become one of 40 collaborative partners for the library’s 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop Programming.”
“We were delighted to participate in this landmark anniversary celebration,” said Jonsaba Jabbi, BABA Co-Founder and Director. “This collaboration commemorated the cultural significance of Hip Hop and fostered a sense of appreciation for its artistic contributions. Our involvement as the sole Canadian partner allowed us to showcase the rich heritage of Canadian Hip Hop and its pivotal role in the global Hip Hop movement.”
As a key collaborator, BABA will be responsible for producing and creating six pieces of programming.
“This was our opportunity to uplift Canadian Hip Hop. There are a lot of young people who don’t know about Canadian Hip Hop before Drake. We felt the need to amplify great Canadian hip hop and the issues that surrounded it,” Jonsaba tells me. “Do you remember when Maestro Fresh Wes spoke to the Oka Crisis. This is the type of depth that is found, and we have to preserve that.”
The archive will work under the guidance of Syreeta Gates, Hip Hop Archivist and founder of The Gates Preserve, to create programming inclusive of social media posts; videos; reels; and virtual and in-person events that amplify the impact of Canadian Hip Hop on the global movement. As part of the Hip Hop 50 programming, BABA will also animate and curate the window of TYPE bookstore’s Junction location during the month of August.
“The project promises to be an engaging experience and BABA’s involvement adds a distinctive international dimension to the celebration,” Alannah explains. “Through this partnership we aim to inspire and educate audiences about the roots and evolution of this dynamic art form, and we are happy to amplify old school Canadian Hip Hop on the global stage.”
The celebration culminated in a two-day ‘Hip Hop 50 Summit’ on August 3rd -4th at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center in Long Island City, Queens The programming collaboration embodies a shared commitment to promoting and preserving diverse cultural narratives. Together BABA, The Queens Public Library and The Gates Preserve are creating a vibrant tapestry of Hip Hop’s journey, drawing upon its past to illuminate its path forward.
For more information on the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop Programming follow Building A Black Archive on social media at @buildingablackarchive or email them at hello@buildingablacarchive.com.