Hip Hop from the Italian Diaspora

In early June 2000, the Calandra Institute held a three-day event entitled “Hip Hop from the Italian Diaspora,” in Montevarchi and Terranuova Bracciolini (prov. of Arezzo), Tuscany, Italy. The event explored the links between Italy and the Diaspora using Hip Hop as the medium for communication.

The event featured Italian rap artists and rappers of Italian descendent from around the world: BL One and Shorty (USA), La Famiglia (Italy), Frankie Hi Nrg Mc (Italy), Giustizia La Bomba (Canada), Mass MC (Australia), Malaisa and Ice One (Italy), DJ Skizo of the Alien Army (Italy), and Toni L (Germany). Two young MCs from Montevarchi also participated, Dr. Snot and Gazza. Gazza, whose mother immigrated from Somalia, represented recent immigration to Italy and the country’s growing multicultural population. Organized by Dr. Joseph Sciorra, the event was part of the Third Annual Rassegna di Arti Contemporanee "Cicli" Music Festival and was financially sponsored the two respective town governments.

The event consisted of a symposium featuring the artists discussing a series of topics that was attended by approximately 75 people. The following two days included demonstrations of break dancing, aerosol art, and “free style” (improvised verse), as well as two night concerts in the respective town piazze.

Elisabetta Povoledo of The New York Times wrote an article about the links between contemporary rap Italiano and traditional Italian oral poetry in ottava rima.