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April 05, 2005
Preservation from defamation: Con Safos
It is seen on subways, bridge overpasses, and side-street alleys. It is felt from the bass of the car in the next lane and created in the minds of people all across the world united by a love of rhythm expression through rhyme.
And although it has become synonymous with mainstream rap, hip-hop, as well as hip-hop culture, has made tremendous contributions through the years to American culture.
Traditionally, the genre has been dominated by the east and west coasts, but there’s also been a powerful local for the past 20 years, which has given rise to its own distinct gritty, lyrically enticing sound, as well as artists that can rival anything produced near the oceans. All of this style can be heard first-hand on Hamline’s Con Safos Radio, an HU Radio program.
Literally meaning with respect, a “C/S” is added to a work of graffiti art by an artist who wishes to preserve their message from defamation. It was with this belief that junior Esteban Renderos, with hip-hop artists Brandon Bagaason and Antonio Rosario (AKA Orikal), and U of M students Rodrigo Sanchez-Chavarria and Miguel Vargas, began Con Safos, with the goal of providing an arena for creative audio, regardless of genre.
Con Safos encourages every form of expression, whether it’s poetry, spoken word, or instrumental, Renderos said.
The show’s original audience was small, but since HU Radio also broadcasts online, Renderos said, the show now has listeners from places such as Cornell University and Santa Cruz, Calif. They even have a fan in England.
Although the goal of the show is to provide a full spectrum of media, most of the material is related to hip-hop culture, its roots, and non-musical form (poetry), and it has been embraced by this team of local artists. The show airs biweekly on Tuesday and Friday (known as “Old School Tuesdays” and “Hip-Hop Fridays,” respectively). “Hip-Hop Fridays” is a showcase of what’s new in local hip-hop, and “Old School Tuesdays” is a look back at where the contemporary sound came from.
Orikal is a frequent performer, and Purest Form and Dialek, local hip-hop groups, have both made appearances on the show, as well as other artists.
“Here people talk about their lives, about issues that are real,” Renderos said. “It is as pure of a form of hip-hop as you will ever find.”
As a privately funded entity, Con Safos is free to air anything they see fit, which provides freedom for guests. Guests are welcome to perform in any way they wish, be it an interview, freestyle, poetry, or just chatting about music and current issues.
Broadcasts can be heard via the Hamline Radio web site by anyone in the world at www.hamline.edu/radio on Tuesdays from 6:30ą8:30 p.m. and Fridays from 9ą11 p.m. Access permitting, the group hopes to air shows throughout the summer.
Portions of the show are available to listen to at http://hiphopclub.biz/artists/consafos, and HU Radio’s web site is at http://www.hamline.edu/radio.
Posted by msveum at April 5, 2005 09:23 PM
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