Community Leaders Speak About State Of Hip-Hop In Madison

In the hip-hop world, a “cypher” is a group of freestylers, each stepping up to the mic, one at a time, to speak in rhythm and rhyme. They’re competitive and compelling to watch.

The seventh annual Madison Hip Hop Awards took place in mid-November, sponsored by the Urban Community Arts Network (UCAN), and sprinkled throughout the show were cypher videos showcasing some of the strong artistic talent that often stays under the radar in Madison due in part to a lack of venues willing to book the art form.

The cyphers were highly moving and skillfully executed — filled with wordplay, delivered with passion and well produced (see below.) There were also live performances that were equally artful, with creative choreography and gorgeous dancing.

The show was truly a celebration of local hip-hop talent.

In two separate conversations, UCAN co-founders Karen Reece and ShaH Evans make the case that at about 40 years old, hip-hop is one of the fastest-growing art forms in the world. It can be a powerful form of self-expression, it’s a learning tool, it’s popular, accessible and continually evolving.

They also make the case that racism is the reason why it’s hard to find a live show of rap or hip-hop — and other genres of music favored by people of color — in Madison.

Editor’s Note: Both interviews are included back-to-back in the audio file above, with the Evans conversation starting at 22:30.