Today’s kids probably think rappers have always been purveyors of commercial goods. 50 Cent has Vitamin Water. Diddy and Burger King are partners. Common probably even folds every shirt at The Gap. However, there was a time when rappers weren’t viable salespeople because their music wasn’t reaching a broad segment of the population. In 1990, a Bay Area entertainer who went by the moniker MC Hammer helped set rap on track to be a cultural…
MONDAY >> Today’s Fort Reno show features local indie poppers Greenland (***) with Statehood and Kitty Hawk. The weather report calls for clear skies, but bring water. 7:15 p.m., free. >> How about another free event? The Black Cat backstage will feature movies about punk rockers Murder City Devils and Anti-Flag. 9 p.m., free. >> This week marks the sixth year of the Hip-Hop Theater Festival, sponsored by the DC Commission on the Arts and…
>> Transformer opens a show this weekend showcasing the work of two extremely talented photographers. Lely Constantinople and Antonia Tricarico utilize a slew of cameras as they approach people on the streets, taking portraits and learning the person behind the picture. They look for the commonalities in strangers who may pass each other everyday, never seeing it themselves. Unsurprisingly, these documentary artists each have pieces hanging in the National Museum of American History. Stop…
Ever been to the Washington Museum of Art? Of course, there isn’t one, but that’s likely to change tonight with the dedication of the City Hall Art Collection at the John A. Wilson Building. For the first time the District will have a permanent collection of art to show off the talent of our local artists. The exhibit features a broad swath of media and contemporary stylings, not to mention representation from every ward, with…
I’ve walked by the old Convention Center site recently, and there’s this weird artsy-looking walkway between H Street and New York Avenue. What the hell is it? You’d be surprised how many emails we’ve received with this exact question. You’d also be surprised how a staff of writers and editors as big as our own could be so easily stumped. We had no idea. Until today. According to a press release from D.C. Mayor…
MONDAY: >> Didn’t grab tickets to the now-sold-out Dinosaur Jr. reunion show at the 9:30 Club? May we suggest craigslist or French Toast, The Chance, and Caution Curves at Fort Reno for free? The Fort Reno show starts at 7:15 p.m.; you can check out some French Toast songs here. >> The DC Hip Hop Theater Festival, a project of the DC Commission on the Arts, features national and international artists and goes on all…
Bicycle Thieves have become well-known around the D.C. area for their polished melodies and catchy hooks (listen to a couple of mp3s here). Lucky for you, you’ll have a chance to check out their crowd-pleasing music tonight at Unbuckled (9 p.m.! Black Cat backstage! Be there!). Frontman Jon Kaplan chatted with DCist about having his song featured on MTV, how a band can apply for a D.C. arts grant, and the local scene. DCist: Can…
Dupont Circle residents may have noticed many of the obsolete fire and police call boxes in the area have re-painted, and contain a card explaining after September 10 they’ll contain displays showcasing the history and culture of the community. The citywide Art on Call program provides neighborhood organizations funds to renovate the boxes in their neighborhoods provided they work with artists and historians to come up with a plan to renovate and reuse the existing,…
My question is about the decorated pigs that can be seen around the city lately. I assumed they were the latest in the series that included the Party Animals and Pandamania, so I checked the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities website. I couldn’t find any info, though. What are these mysterious piggies and where did they come from? DCist actually noted these little piggies in a morning roundup a week or so ago…