Tonight: Grandmaster Flash & Afrika Bambaataa School Toronto Proper

[Andrew Epstein takes a break from metal to give props to two of the godfathers of hip hop. And there’s more to come. Stand by. -AC]

This Saturday night, Toronto will get a lesson in hip-hop history as Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa come together for a rare Canadian appearance to present “The Lost Art of Hip-Hop”. The show will explore early hip-hip culture including “art, dancing, toasting, boasting and above all DJing”.

Really there are no two better individuals to deliver this musical history lesson. Their releases are the main the reason why hip-hop and rap music are so dominant in modern culture. Tracks like The Message, Larry’s Dance Theme, Planet Rock, and Renegades of Funk crossed racial and class boundaries and influenced two generations of musicians from rap and hip-hop, to electronic, rock and punk performers.

Flash himself has recently embraced the digital DJing, so it will be interesting to see how that will blend with the analog/vinyl theme of the evening. Correspondent Andrew Epstein has been dispatched get a first-hand look at this once-in-a-lifetime event, and to try and grab a few words with these living legends of hip-hop.

Event:
Grandmaster Flash & Afrika Bambaataa
Lost Art of Hip Hop Party
Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto

Date:
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Doors open 9 pm
19+