When Micah Chapman, co-founder of Chattanooga Hip-Hop Week -- a showcase of art, live music and educational experiences -- thinks about how far the event and the music have come in the past few years, he points to three touchstones as proof that things are moving in the right direction.
The first came when Mayor Tim Kelly traveled in June to Manchester, Tennessee, during the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival to present a key to the city to Chattanooga rapper Isaiah Rashad.
The second came when Kelly officially proclaimed the week of Oct. 9 as Hip-Hop Week.
And the third came when officials at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center reached out to him and others about hosting part of the events at the Bessie.
"The most fascinating thing is to be hosting things at the Bessie," Champan said in a telephone interview. "I think that means a lot for Black Chattanooga and urban music to bring it there. For them to their open doors and welcome us, and say, 'Hey, what can we do?' is so meaningful."
Chattanooga Hip-Hop Week has grown over the past few years from a one-day event into a weeklong series of gatherings.
It kicks off Sunday and will conclude Saturday with the Hip-Hop Summit. Events are planned at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Waterhouse Pavilion, The Spot on Main, WanderLinger Brewing Co. and, of course, at the Bessie, where there will be a concert Friday and the conference next weekend.
Fellow co-founder Sammy Loudermilk agreed the events offer validation of the growing community in the Chattanooga area.
"When we hosted the first one in 2019, we had zero expectations and had 100 people come out," he said by telephone. "It showed us there was a desire from people to grow their craft. This year we have 200 registered for the conference, and for the mayor to issue a proclamation was big."
The celebration will consist of art shows, poetry events, live music, family-friendly activities and the week's signature event, the Chattanooga Hip-Hop Summit conference. Panelists such as Wendy Day, Starlito, Bigga Rankin and Kim Osorio, among others, will discuss a variety of topics that Chapman said are designed to celebrate and educate anyone working in hip-hop.
Like everything else during the week, the conference is free, but the public must register in advance for the summit due to limited seating.
Panel discussions at the summit will cover topics like marketing, branding, sync placement, strategies around getting music heard, using social media platforms effectively and a panel hosted by WJTT-FM 94.3. By bringing in industry experts as well as artists like Fabo from D4L, Yung Ralph and Big V of Nappy Roots, the summit hopes to provide a wealth of knowledge for artists, managers, producers, engineers and even entrepreneurs associated with the hip-hop industry.
Chapman, who was born and raised in Chattanooga and who is a church minister whose other passions include gospel music, said seeing Kelly recognize the internationally renowned Rashad was a big moment for local hip-hop fans.
"I'm not saying we had anything to do with it, but it felt like Mayor Tim Kelly had a little more insight into the music and what it means. Isaiah is from here and an international superstar, but for him to take the time shows me our mayor takes the art form seriously.
"I know I got tons of calls. I was like, 'Wow.' It warms my heart as an organizer and an advocate because I know hip-hop has a bad rap in some people's minds."
Kelly made the presentation in Manchester from the stage and told Rashad and his parents who were there that he had "made Chattanooga proud."
"Our aim is to create an educational environment that is impactful for everyone in the room," Chapman said in a news release sent out last month. "It's a place for hip-hop creatives to gather together for learning, networking and defining their future. The Chattanooga Hip-Hop Summit was created to give aspiring artists the opportunity to break into the music business by gaining insight from industry experts, and we're excited to grow this event in year two."
For more information or to register for the free Hip-Hop Summit, go to chahiphopsummit.com.
THE SCHEDULE
– Sunday, Oct. 9
3-7 p.m. Hip-Hop Family Day Presented by EPB, Miller Park with family-friendly live music, vendors, and games.
– Monday, Oct. 10
7 p.m., Hip-Hop Poetry Slam, The Spot on Main featuring poetry and spoken word.
– Tuesday, Oct. 11
7 p.m., Clout Trap Showcase, WanderLinger Brewing Co. featuring winners of all 2022 local artist showcases competing compete for a grand prize.
– Wednesday, Oct. 12
6 p.m., Chattanooga Hip-Hop Summit Reception, Waterhouse Pavilion, featuring a dress-to-impress happy hour event to kick off the Chattanooga Hip-Hop Summit.
8 p.m. Hype Magazine Showcase, Waterhouse Pavilion where the magazine will host an event that includes a panel and live music.
– Thursday, Oct. 13
1-6:30 p.m. Chattanooga Hip-Hop Summit Day One, Bessie Smith Cultural Center with panel topics including Getting the Business Right and Monetizing Your Music.
6-7:30 p.m. Hip-Hop at the Hunter, "Hip-Hop Meets Memories & Inspiration," The Hunter Museum of American Art where attendees can walk through The Kerry and C. Betty Davis Collection of African American Art exhibit, hear spoken word and live music.
7 p.m., Rap-Trap Karaoke Live at UTC featuring Trap Beckham, Swayyvo, Qualls, Calee, and T Rizer. Note: This event is for currently registered for UTC students.
– Friday, Oct. 14
1-6:30 p.m., Chattanooga Hip-Hop Summit Day Two, Bessie Smith Cultural Center with panel topics including Marketing & Branding, Thriving as an Independent Artist, and Getting Your Music Heard.
7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. "Hip-Hop Legends at the Bessie" featuring Fabo of D4L, Yung Ralph, as well as Mistic Click, HPGz, Maal the Pimp, D Cooley, Poho, Smokke Dogg, Bessie Smith Cultural Center, and cash bar.
– Saturday, Oct. 15
1-4:30 p.m., Chattanooga Hip-Hop Summit Day Three, Bessie Smith Cultural Center with panel topics including the Power 94 panel and Songwriting & Publishing
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com