Zulu Nation and Project 5 Sponsor Benefit

Zulu Nation and Project 5 sponsored another reunion of sorts on Saturday,November 20,|| for New York's hip-hop community, bringing the five elementstogether at New York University's Thompson Auditorium for a day of creative expression and education. The Essence, created to embrace and preserve thehistory of hip-hop culture, benefited Studio in a School, a not-for-profitvisual arts in education that places professional artists in New York Cityschools.

Graffiti by the likes of the Inkheads and Sato covered the walls of thecrowded auditorium, while champion B-boys and girls like Fever One, AlienNess, A-B-Girl and Rock With Finesse took to the floor. DJs Anna and Signifyof the 1200 Hobos, Anticon's Shalem, Excess and IXL from Kolabz/Unit, OnPoynt, Swerve and Desk from IRT and Raydawn and Devious from Aleph all spunbetween sets by Sage of the non-prophets, 1200 Hobos' Adeem, AesopROCK,Terrestrial and the Atomfs Family. The night was rounded off by creativedemonstrations including throat singing, tap dancing and a lecture on theart of turntablism by Battle Sounds creator John Carluccio - a learningexperience for all who attended. "These sort of events are an expressiveoutlet for people who usually don't have a chance to do whatever they do:breakdance, graf write, emcee, dj," said Adeem. "And also, it's just fun, yaknow." - Kristin Cleary