This year’s theme is “WORD! Celebrating 50 Years of Hip-Hop Culture”

“WORD! Celebrating 50 Years of Hip-Hop Culture” brings together literature and visual and performing arts, featuring leaders, authors and scholars of Florida’s hip-hop community, from July 13 to 15 at Broward County Library’s African American Research Library & Cultural Center (AARLCC), 2650 Sistrunk Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311.

Founded in 2012, the South Florida Book Festival is one of the fastest growing events of its kind across the southeast region, presenting celebrity authors and respected thought leaders in contemporary culture. 

“Like blues and jazz, hip-hop represents the creative expression by marginalized groups through spoken word and rhythm,” said Dr. Tameka Hobbs, Library Regional Manager of AARLCC, in a press release. “We are excited to explore the elements of the culture, including storytelling, DJing, dance and art during the festival. There will be something for everyone.”

This year’s festival will explore the cultural explosion generated by the hip-hop phenomenon. Attendees will hear from nationally known speakers, meet local artists, and learn the roots of hip-hop culture from music professionals like recording artist Rico Love and founder of Slip-n-Slide records Ted Lucas.

Dr. Rocky Bucano, Executive Director of the Universal Hip Hop Museum in New York City notes, “From the now legendary declaration [by musician Andre 3000] that, ‘The South Got Something to Say,’ regional hip-hop from South Florida has been incredibly influential. Their lyrical storytelling style continues in the tradition of the African griot, telling not only their story, and also the stories of others. And with a legacy descended from the historic libraries of Timbuktu, the African American Research Library and Cultural Center preserves these stories from our culture for future generations to come.”

Scheduled activities and presenters include:

Thursday, July 13

• 10:30- 11:30AM – A Conversation with New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander
• 1 – 3PM – Hip-Hop Hooray Children’s Day with Girls Make Beats and the Museum of Graffiti. 
• 6:30 – 8PM – T.W.E.R.K. (Transnational artistic dance Works and practices that Evoke Revolutionary Kinship) by the Olujimi Dance Theater. 

Friday, July 14

• 6 – 7PM – An Evening with Kevin Powell, one of the most acclaimed political, cultural, literary hip-hop voices in America today.
• 7 – 10PM – Eat. Drink. Read. “Kicks & Sips” Edition, featuring DJ Demp. Must be 21 years old or over to attend this ticketed event ($25); proceeds benefit the South Florida Book Festival.  

Saturday, July 1511 AM – 5PM – South Florida Book Festival

• Rob Kenner, author of The Marathon Don’t Stop: The Life and Times of Nipsey Hussle
• Dr. Regina Bradley, author of Chronicling Stankonia: The Birth of the Hip-Hop South
• South Florida Got Something to Say: The History & Future of Hip-Hop panel discussion 
• The Funky Drummer: Hip-Hop, Sampling, and the Legacy of Black Music audio tour and discussion

Registration is requested. Events and programs are free unless otherwise noted. For questions or additional information about South Florida Book Festival, contact Tramiya Fitzpatrick, tfitzpatrick@broward.org  or 954-357-6190. 

This is a Hy-Lo News Staff Report.

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