Editors Note: Wheeling Scene is a new series featuring photos from select events held in Wheeling. Our goal through this series is to help capture and share moments that showcase the people, places, and events that make our city unique. If you have an event that you think we should capture, send an email to weelunk@weelunk.com for consideration.
On Saturday, February 24, the Wheeling Artisan Center was buzzing with hip-hop music and artwork to celebrate the return of Hip Hop: A Black Tie Affair. This event was conceived by Wheeling Heritage and the Wheeling YWCA in 2019, but it didn’t have the chance to become an annual gathering due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After years of anticipation, the hip-hop-inspired event returned bigger and better than ever.
The art gallery showcased more than 35 pieces of artwork created by artists near and far. The evening also included a screening of “Please Listen to My Demo,” which was a compilation of acapella verses performed by local hip-hop artists who reflected on different aspects of their identities. It wouldn’t be a hip-hop event without some music, and thanks to DJ Stealth and DJ Phurcat the crowd was entertained throughout the evening with their unique blend of breakbeats and original samples that demonstrated the extensive reach of the hip-hop genre.
If you weren’t able to make it to this year’s event, check out our exclusive gallery of photos captured by the Wheeling Heritage Media Team!
“I had the pleasure of attending Hip Hop: A Black Tie Affair as a featured visual artist but also as a supporter of my family in their artistry. The event was beautiful and a step in the right direction to paying homage to a genre and lifestyle that has influenced mainstream culture for the last 50 years. Hip Hop is more than just music, born out the struggle and hardships of inner city Black and Brown communities, it is a culture. I appreciate the positive aspect of togetherness within the community that was present throughout and am hopeful that it leads to more understanding across demographics as well as of Black culture. ” – Ishara Henry
“In 2006, Queen Latifah became the first hip hop artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. As a female artist, I think it’s important to celebrate and recognize the achievements of previous generations. I created portraits of Queen Latifah and MIA (Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam) to honor their courage and strength to be strong inspiring voices.” – Mindi Yarbrough
• Wheeling Heritage Media creates a variety of multimedia experiences in order to tell Wheeling’s story, both past and present. Through videos, podcasts, photos, and more, they create content and provide digital access to help more people feel connected and engaged with this vibrant, growing community
