Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: Jason Finley The Beats and Rhymes Club hosted a breakdancing competition, "Cap City Psi-pher," on Sept. 16 in the Union's Redwood Room. [Click to enlarge]

Many of us have walked down the street and shaken our head at graffiti-splattered walls. And everyone has his or her preconceived notions about the hip-hop music of our era. Many people are quick to judge and decide the hip-hop culture is poisonous to today's society. However, there is a growing club at Sacramento State that is trying to change all this.

The Beats and Rhymes Club at Sac State promotes hip-hop culture through music, art and dance.

The club was reactivated two years ago after it had dissipated due to a lack of leadership. Senior business major Robert Lim, who is the current vice president, was encouraged by alumni to reinstate the club.

According to Lim, the Beats and Rhymes Club's goal is to foster the creative side of students and give those who are musically and artistically inclined a chance to expand their talent by performing, meeting with other local talents and participating in workshops, Lim said.

The club is trying to change the public's negative views of the hip-hop culture by showing that hip-hop is more than a hobby - it's an art.

The Beats and Rhymes Club currently has 12 members and is led by president Vince Horiuchi, who is also a senior business major. Horiuchi's main goal this year is to reach out to the youth who are interested in learning more about the hip-hop culture.

"We want to reach out to young kids and show them what this is about. Even the commercial stereotypes are promoting gang violence, sex and drugs. This isn't giving them a good message and it's a big problem in my eyes," Horiuchi said.

Horiuchi's solution is to get the kids involved in dance, art and music, and to motivate them to use their talents in positive ways. He said the club is simply a way for Sac State students, who are involved in the hip-hop culture, to try something different and change the negative views of hip-hop.

"A lot of people don't know what it's about. We want to get the message out that you don't have to be a rapper, dancer or artist to be a member of the club. You can come and get free lessons or be part of some of our events and gain experience. We need more support, the more we get the more success the club is going to get," Horiuchi said.

Senior international business major Marcel Lewis, who is also a member of the club, agrees that a diverse group of students could be involved in the club and its activities.

The club has hosted many events in the past and recently hosted a break dancing competition called "Cap City Psi-pher."

In November Lim said the club plans to host many more events like a documentary screening of "Planet Beat Boys" and hosting an old school dance party.

Lim said he is excited to see more involvement with dancers this semester. The club has been contacted by more students eager to participate in performances in order to network and publicize themselves.

"It used to just be me and one other guy. Now we have 12 strong members, and hope for more," Lim said.

Lim said the hip-hop culture was originally for disenfranchised youths to express themselves creatively since they didn't have the means through their schools and community.

"It shows expression and your strengths. We want to give people a chance to speak their minds and be creative and poetic," Lim said.

The unified goal of the club is for the public to understand the hip-hop cultures roots and to put value on it.

"We want people to see it for what it is. The dance and graffiti are all important. This isn't a passing fad that the media can pick up and drop off.," Lim said.

The club encourages students to stop by its meetings, which are often used as practices for break dancers. They meet Monday nights from 8-10, Friday nights from 7-10, and Sunday nights from 5-7 in Yosemite Hall, and Wednesday nights from 8-10 in the University Union.

Interested parties can contact the club at brc.csus@yahoo.com.

Amanda Pollard can be reached at apollard@statehornet.com.

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