Emcees exchange verbal blows to benefit hurricane relief efforts

Hip Hop Congress is sponsoring an emcee battle at 6:45 p.m. today at the Collins Center courtyard. If enough spaces are available, aspiring verbal warriors will be allowed to sign up on the spot. Midwest performers DJ Brakez and Halfblown will deejay and play host to the event. Proceeds from T-shirt sales will contribute to Hurricane Katrina relief funds. \nThe IU chapter of Hip Hop Congress was founded to "create a viable forum for people to learn, express themselves, interact with diverse ideas and cultures, and gain the tools they need to facilitate their own goals," according to the group's Web site.\nThe virtues of an emcee battle might escape the aim of the opera and hors d'oeuvre crowd of Bloomington, but Alex Pyatetsky, president of Hip Hop Congress and an IU student, said this event still has artistic merit.\n"An emcee battle is where emcees stash away their abilities to write beautiful poetry and insightful rhymes for a more appropriate time," Pyatetsky said in an e-mail. "The emcee battle is really a test of wits, humor and overall ability to freestyle -- to rap off the top of the head, no writtens." \nIU student Dan Stevens, also known as DJ Brakez, said one of the things Hip Hop Congress tries to do is promote social consciousness and positive community involvement to keep with the original spirit of Hip Hop. \n"Hip hop has this rep that everyone's in it for the money. One of the things that Hip Hop Congress does really well is show that it's about bringing people together, promoting education, and showing respect."\nPyatatsky said that an emcee battle to benefit hurricane relief efforts keeps with the objectives of Hip Hop.\n"Out of this tragedy, the hip hop community has really come together and many of even the least 'conscious' members have made unbelievable contributions toward relief efforts. Our event is very much in the same vein; we are trying to bring entertainment, community and philanthropy together," Pyatetsky said in an e-mail. "I think we'll be able to do that very successfully by combining this emcee battle with a hurricane relief effort."\nStevens said he intends to provide beats that recall the roots of emcee battles. \n"I'll be basically presenting like the original way hip hop battles got started," Stevens said, adding that he'd perform in the style of early 1990s hip hop artists like KRS-One and Mobb Deep. \nThe DJ's role in an emcee battle is essential to bringing out the energy and flow from the mike-clenching combatants, said Stevens, who has been DJing in the Midwest for about five years. "It gets 'em pumped and fired up to have a good battle," Stevens said. "I'm gonna just make sure the music's going well."\nStudent Ken Chen, also known as DJ Sleeper and a member of Hip Hop Congress, said emcee battles have an expansive appeal beyond just hip hop fans. He encouraged anyone with even a mild curiosity to stop by Collins tonight. \n"It doesn't matter what type of music you're into. It's a battle of words, so if you can speak English, you'll be entertained," Chen said.