The RMG is a rapper's delight

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Story by Kyle Sharp

Oshawa is gettin’ jiggy with it tonight at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery (RMG).
Hip Hop in Durham, an interactive art event that celebrates the urban genre of music, arrives at the RMG tonight starting at 7 p.m. The all-ages event is promised to showcase all aspects of the culture featuring performances from Tops and DJ Najjah Calibur, who is serving as the show’s MC as well as a presentation from UOIT dance troupe, TheGeekFreaks.

The night will also include a graffiti art exhibit, a flight school clothing line fashion show and impromptu performances from B-Boys and B-Girls to keep the crowd energized all night. It’s put on in association with the Durham College club, Hip Hop in its Essence and Realness.
Volunteer coordinator and special projects at the gallery, Norah O’Donnell says the goal of the night is to give attendees the complete hip hop experience.
“We wanted to create an event that celebrates hip hop in all of its essence and components,” said O’Donnell. “We open the gallery up to the public and expose people to [art] who may not have gone otherwise.”
Hip Hop in Durham is the 10^th event in a series called First Fridays, something O’Donnell says has quickly become a staple in the Oshawa community. On the first Friday of every month, the RMG puts on an event for the community free of charge, usually featuring some sort of musical performance and interactive exhibit. O’Donnell says they try to make each month’s event different in order to reach as many people as possible.
“For each event we have a typical group of people who come because they’re aware of First Friday at the RMG but we also have another group of people who are coming because they’re interested by that niche or genre we’re showcasing. So each month we get to expose a whole new group of people to the gallery.
O’Donnell and the staff at the RMG usually try to set the tone of each event with a different genre of music. Last month’s Halloween party had an indie rock vibe while next month’s gala will focus on the art of Jazz.
For more information on the Robert McLaughlin Gallery’s First Friday events visit www.rmg.on.ca.