RHYTHMandPOETRY: The Cypher

As you may have heard by now the August 16th edition of RHYTHM and POETRY didn’t necessarily go as planned. We planned to have a cypher for this session anyway, so when things went awry we switched it up on the fly and kept rockin.

Normally RHYTHM and POETRY is held outside on the patio of a cafe. It’s a great atmosphere and we really wanted to support by bringing attention and business to the newest Black-owned uptown venture.  Originally we were told when it rains we would be able to move inside however we weren’t able to do that after all.

So then we moved to Xavier’s music building for a jam session and to give the performers who came through an opportunity to showcase their talent. That didn’t last long so we took the Cypher to the UC. The cypher killed.

Undoubtedly we changed the minds of a few minds who previously thought Hip Hop was dead, gained some momentum for the New Orleans Hip Hop scene, a few fans, and of course were able to promote for the next RHYTHM and POETRY which WILL be held September 6 and is our WHITEout! edition of the event. We’ll bring you more details on that soon.

Also we will be posting a few videos from tonight’s Cypher. Thanks to all of the artists who came out to support & participate in the Cypher. We’re hoping to see new face next time!

Stay tuned for photos & video!

RHYTHMandPOETRY: Class is in session

RHYTHMandPOETRY: Class is in session
(A review of New Orleans’ newest open mic event)

By Jalisa Mathis

On a hot, summer night, “students” congregated on the patio of the newly opened New Orleans Uptown restaurant Café On The Ave. Although it was summer, “students” were prepared for their first bi-monthly lesson in RAP—Rhythm and Poetry.

The event, which is hosted by local residential artists TheSeKondElement and Greg Banks, was put together to serve two special purposes. According to TheSeKondElement, who is also a sponsor of the event, RAP is meant to bring a quality open mic hip hop event to audiences in the NOLA area.

“The three main complaints we hear about live Hip Hop…are they don’t start on time, there are too many people on the bill, and most of the people performing are [subpar],” TheSeKondElement said.

The second reason for RAP is to educate people about the strong connection that exists between rap and poetry. TheSeKondElement said, “Rap and poetry are…like fraternal twins; the event is to show people that.”

Doors opened at 8:30 p.m., and by 8:45 p.m., the event was at standing room only. Ironically enough, the audience extended into the surrounding Gert Town neighborhood, as individuals could enjoy the show from outside of the patio. RHYTHMandPOETRY started promptly at 9 p.m. with live music courtesy of the New Orleans based band 3rd Degree. The band played covers of recent hip hop hits from B.O.B. and Erykah Badu, “Nothing on You” and “Window Seat,” respectively. Because of minor technical difficulties, open mic began about 30 minutes later.

Banks and TheSeKondElement worked well as hosts for the event. Banks offered sex appeal to the large female population in attendance. TheSeKondElement, self-deprecating and never one to miss the opportunity for a joke, brought a comedic element to the venue. Both artists also performed.

After Banks and TheSeKondElement opened the show, the bill featured a vast array of ten performers. Talent was plentiful, as there were emcees, singers, poets, and spoken word artists. Banks said it best when he stated, “This is New Orleans unplugged.”

There was also a bit of a competitive spirit as open mic performers could elect to compete against each other for free studio time at the New Orleans based Hut Studio.

One highlight of the evening consisted of a gospel segment courtesy of one of the performers, who’s singing was coupled with the impromptu keyboard accompaniment of another performer. Another highlight was the intimacy created by the venue allowed for audience participation, particularly when TheSeKondElement took to schooling the crowd on what the acronym RAP, and thusly, the word “rap,” stood for.

Although there were several highlights for the event, there were also a few missteps. The intimacy of the venue was border-line cramped. Also, a time limit for the performers should have been implemented, as several were liberal with their time.

All in all, RHYTHMandPOETRY is a breath of fresh air for the NOLA open mic scene. With quality growth from each session, RAP has potential to become the premiere open mic event for the area.

RHYTHMandPOETRY is coordinated and held by affiliates TeamT2E and IdleMindz Media & Entertainment Group. Debuting July 19, it is held on the first and third Mondays of each month. The event costs $5 per person at the door; however, by signing onto the guest list of affiliated members, admission is $2. For more information contact info@idlemindzmeg.com.