Unity Through Music, The Rebirth Of Progressive Hip Hop – July. 31, 2010 Live!!!

If you love hip hop and crave for the return of progressive, all inclusive hip hop music, the place to be on July 31, 2010 is at Atlanta’s ONE MusicFest.

ONE MusicFest will be unlike any event experience in the hip hop world.  It’s a combination of a Mega Concert, Music Midtown, Dave Chapelle’s “Block Party”, a New York City Art Stroll, a College Bonfire, a Car Show, Sol Fusion’s Block Party and a Gaming Expo.

Hiphophoney.com sat down with two of the three main organizers’ of ONE MusicFest, J Carter and Christian Ruffin to discuss the upcoming event.

For Your Listening or viewing pleasure!

HHH – Today we’re talking to ONE MusicFest organizers, J. Carter and Christian Ruffin. You have this great hip hop show coming up One MusicFest. I took a look at the promotion behind it and you guys are tapping into something that is just not prevalent in the game right now.

The first thing I want to ask, I see that it’s being developed by three organizers. How did you guys come together, tell me how that dynamic started.

J. CARTER – I’ve been doing events in Atlanta for awhile and there is a gentleman by the name of Christian Ruffin who owns a production company,
The event space is on the property of King Plow. The family that owns that entire property, they do a lot of separate events as well. They have a son, Robert Shaw, who does, more non tradition progressive hip hop events. His marketing is generally geared to a younger white audience. While my market to a more progressive African American audience.

The music is very similar at both events so we said, “Atlanta is really lacking a lot of progressive hip hop, funk, soul, and electro mixed outdoor events”. It’s just not happing in the city of Atlanta.

So we said, “You know what, we got the property, we have the reach, why don’t we try to make something happen this summer?”  We just put pen to paper and came up with a plan. It really took great form. The city of Atlanta is excited as well and really is cheerleading behind it as well.

HHH – What made you choose Atlanta for the premiere event rather than another major city?

J. CARTER – From the outside looking in Atlanta is a major metropolitan city, but in a lot of respects it’s very segregated. So that’s why an event like this and the merger of all different kinds of communities, arts, culture and people is important in Atlanta especially at this time.

It’s bigger than a music fest and the arts. We’re hoping we can redirect the direction that Atlanta has been going for a while. Like Dead Prez says, ”It bigger than Hip Hop”.

HHH – Can you talk about the venue location King Plow?

CHRISTIAN RUFFIN – Atlanta is becoming the new Mecca of things to do and where to go. King Plow’s galleries provide an artistic environment for parties, and feature a state-of-the-art concert sound system for concerts and other music related events

HHH- What’s the meaning behind ONE MusicFest?

CHRISTIAN RUFFIN – J. Carter, I give him all the credit with coming up with that name for this project. We were looking for the right word to symbolize everyone in one form and fashion, which what music brings.

It brings people together. It doesn’t matter what color, what like of world that you walk. Gay, Straight, Black, White, Asian, everyone loves music. It’s the universal language.

HHH – The line up is incredible. You have two time Grammy award winner artist Common. You also have Grammy award winner Del La Soul and a host of others artist s that just melt your heart, real hip hop get to the soul of it.

J. CARTER – Common and De La Soul, their stage performances and shows is just nuts. As far as hip hop artists, they can give you a good performance that also appeals to Black, White, Asian, Latinos, and all shades and walks of life.

HHH – What about the art expo that’s going on?

J. CARTER – It’s the same thing as in the music. It’s a lot of local artists, graffiti artists, canvas artists, illustrators, and photographers. Some of the photographers are going to be able to display their work inside one of the buildings which is called The View.

An alleyway that runs along the entire length of the property is where we are going to have the graffiti artists outside displaying and vending some of their work.

The artists, some are national known, some are local, some are regional, and all different types of artwork. A little visual stimulation

HHH – Who are some of the major sponsors of the event?

J. CARTER –  Mini Cooper, Red Bull, Ketel One Vodka, Jose Cuervo, and many more.

HHH – What do you want people to remember about ONE MusicFest?

J. CARTER –   It’s the wow factor! We’re going to have huge LCD screens all over the venue. We’re going to have people communicating through social networks in real time.

When you’re at the event and you tweet something or post on Facebook, with the hash tag ONEMUSICFEST, be it a video or message, what’s happing on the second stage, a picture, it’s going be on all the LCD screens in real time.

It’s going to allow people to interact while they are at the festival. We’re trying to build an experience. It’s something different that Atlanta has never seen.

So there you have it. If you’re a fan of hip hop and will be in the Atlanta area on July 31, you have to check and spend a day at ONE MusicFest

For more information about ONE MusicFest visit these sites.
Website: www.onemusicfest.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/onemusicfest

Twitter: www.twitter.com/onemusicfest

Tickets: www.xorbia.com/tickets/onemusicfest/

Interview conducted by Oriel Ross – Freelance writer/contributor to Hiphophoney.com

A native of New   York City, Oriel Ross is a successful businesswoman, entrepreneur, radio personality, and public speaker. O. Ross’ signature services include Conceptual Consulting, Strategic Business Development, Business & Marketing Plans, and Professional Writing requests. For more info on Oriel Ross, O. Ross Services, & Business Builders Radio, please visit O. Ross at www.orossenterprises.com!

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