The 19th Trinity International Hip Hop Festival Is Scheduled, With Programming Taking Place At Various Locations In The City Of Hartford Including The Trinity Campus. As Always, It Will Be Free And Open To Everyone.

This Year’s Theme Is "Hip Hop Saved My Life" And Will Explore The Profound Connections Between Hip Hop Culture, Health And Wellness, Highlighting Its Role As A Transformative Force In Physical, Mental, And Community Healing. Performances, Battles, Panel Discussions, Film Screenings, Lectures, Art Exhibits, And Active Learning Workshops Make Up The Multi-Day Festival Experience, Facilitating A Celebration Hip Hop Not Only As An Art Form But Also As A Lifeline That Inspires Individuals And Communities To Overcome Adversity And Thrive.

Schedule Of Events:

April 17, 2025

Rhymes Of Resistance: French Algerian Hip-Hop And The Legacy Of Historical Trauma”By Celine Mitchell, Ph.D. Candidate (London School Of Economics

Lecture Synopsis:
French Algerian Hip-Hop Serves As A Potent Tool Of Enquiry Into The Past, Unravelling The Collective Trauma Of Colonialism And The Complex Legacy Of Immigration. This Lecture Examines How French Algerian Artists Use Hip-Hop To Navigate The Psychological Wounds Of Historical Oppression While Fostering A Sense Of Identity And Belonging. Through Their Lyrics, French Algerian Artists Have Transformed Oral Storytelling Traditions Into Acts Of Remembrance And Resistance, Confronting France’s Colonial Amnesia And The Unhealed Scars Of Events Like The Algerian War Of Independence (1956 – 1962) And The Paris Massacre (1961). This Exploration Highlights The Dual Role Of Hip-Hop As Both An Emotional Outlet And A Form Of Collective Therapy, Enabling Second- And Third-Generation Algerians To Process Inherited Trauma While Reclaiming Their Historical Narrative. By Addressing Themes Of Labor Exploitation, Immigration Struggles And Racial Prejudice, Their Music Becomes A Bridge Between Past And Present, Illuminating Marginalised Histories And Reshaping French National Identity. Drawing On A Rich Archive Of Lyrics, Interviews And Ethnographic Fieldwork, This Lecture Underscores How French Algerian Hip-Hop Not Only Heals But Empowers, Transforming Pain Into Resilience And Resistance Into Art.

This Year's Keynote Lecture Is Fully Sponsored By The History Department Of Trinity College.

12:15pm-1:15pm
1823 Room
Trinity College Library

Join All Stylez Dancer Angyil And Students Enrolled In "African Dance" With Melissa Craig To Learn About The Links Between Traditional African Dance And Hip Hop Influence Dance Styles.

4:15pm-5:45pm
Trinity Commons - Tc 152 Perfomance Lab

April 18, 2025

Main Concert:

Co-Headliners: Skyzoo & Meccagodzilla

Special International Guests: Coma-Chi (Japan), Asuka (Japan) & Fou Malade (Senegal)

Other Featured Artists: Dj Johnny Juice & Acid

Co-Hosted By: Anoyd & Medusa The Gangsta Goddess

Host Dj: Dj Stealth

Sound System: Dj Tony Crush (Cold Crush Brothers)

8pm-12 Midnight
Penthouse Floor
Bond Ballroom
338 Asylum Street

April 19, 2025

Panel Discussion: Hip Hop Heals

Panelists: Skyzoo, Meccagodzilla, Coma-Chi, Fou Malade, Celine Mitchell

Moderated By: Haben Abraham (Trinity College)

10:45am-12:15pm
Trinity Innovation Center
1 Constitution Plaza, 3rd Floor

Short Presentation: Temple Of Hip Hop & The Declaration Of Peace

Presented By Minister Server (Temple Of Hip Hop)

12:15pm-12:35
Trinity Innovation Center
1 Constitution Plaza, 3rd Floor

Film Screening:

12:45-1:45
In The Hour Of Chaos: Hip Hip Art & Activism With Public Enemy's Chuck D

The Film Will Be Followed By A Q+A With Dr. H. Samy Alim (Ucla), Emile Yx? (Heal The Hood, South Africa) And Medusa The Gangsta Goddess (Long Beach, Ca).

Register And Win A Copy Of Freedom Moves: Hip Hop Knowledges, Pedagogies, And Futures By H. Samy Alim (Editor), Jeff Chang (Editor), Casey Wong (Editor)

All Elements Showcase

Youth 4 Change Performances By Studio 860 Jr. Company And Xxxx And More.

Beat Showcase And Panel Featuring: Ms Madli, Chill Stump, Duck Dodgers, Nuk Beatz.

Favorites Rap Showcase Featuring Special Guest Charly 2x (South Africa)

Live Graffiti On Canvas By Bom5 & Airis

Live Streaming By Ovalord Radio

Co-Hosted By: Gwhiz & Self Suffice

3pm-7pm
Trinity Innovation Center
1 Constitution Plaza, 3rd Floor

Parking For 1 Constitution Plaza

Trinity Til' Infinity Battlezone

3 Vs 3 Breakin' $900
Judges: Shamgod Geddie, Rascal Randi, & Providence

4 Vs 4 Openstylez $1100
Judges: Megatron, Angyil, & Sadboy Shakur
Special Guest Judge: Emile Yx? (South Africa)

Music By: Dj Stealth And Dj Thrifty

Hosted By: Bgirl Trinity And Tang$Auce

Doors Open At 4pm-10pm
The Hall and 1400 Park St

April 20, 2025

Get Up Graffiti Showcase

Featuring Graffiti Writers: Dooley-0, Bom5, Create, & Airis

Music Provided By Dj Johnny Juice

Hosted By: Hydro 8sixty

11am-4pm
Charter Oak Boxing Academy (Coba)
81 Pope Park Hwy

Date: April 17 - 20, 2025

Location: Various Venues in Hartford, CT

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