RVA Rap Elite: Radio B
When was RVA Rap Elite created?
RVA Rap Elite was originally called RVA Lyricist Lounge and it started Jan 2018.
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Who are the founders and core team?Radio B is the founder of RVA Rap Elite. The core team is comprised of Frank Coleman, Nickelus F, Spielburg, Michael Millions, Deon Tillman, Easalio, Hiphop Henry, Melodic, NameBrand, Scientist Wes, BC Music 1st, Enso Media Firm, and Baripete Productions
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What was your inspiration, goals, or mission when you created this organization/platform?
What I saw in HipHop and in my city at that time alarmed me. There was a huge disconnect between emerging rap artists and lyricism. There was also a disconnect between their desired results and the routes being taken to get there. The internet and social media had created a microwave entry into becoming a rapper, and the word EMCEE was becoming muted. My goal with this platform is to reverse engineer that concept. In the past there were rights of passage to become an emcee/rapper. You had to go out in public, whether it be open mics, barber shops, public cyphers, rival schools or wherever to rap and become vetted and validated as a rapper. People had to tell you that you could rap, and that's how your confidence grew. You shut down rooms, you shut down cyphers. You showed and proved, and that process crystalized your skills, and sharpened your tools. You met other emcees, and you learned things about your craft and about yourself. THEN you took that to a studio and began your process as a recording artist. That's how we got the legends we have in Hiphop. Nowadays a kid can skip that whole process. They can download a beat off youtube, set up a home studio, record a poorly mixed song, set up a soundcloud or distrokid, and release the music without any type of vetting and call themselves a rapper. So I wanted to create a platform and a system to replicate the old way, but i knew it couldn't just be an old school open mic. It had to appeal to the social media era, which is why we film and distribute the HD footage to the emcees for every performance. It's why we do things like the draft with the Hiphop influencers in the city involved, and have such a heavy social media presence, and it's been amazing to see emcees from ages 14 to 48 from all genders, and nationalities getting involved in our cyphers and to watch them evolve through the process, and build a whole community within the scene. It's a dream come true, but we still have a long way to go.
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How does music impact/influence the events you produce?
HipHop music in its purest essence is what created RVA Rap Elite. Without HipHop we would have no purpose. Our goal is to preserve and uplift the music and the culture, and to cultivate the next generation of HipHop contributors.
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How has your platform/event grown over the years?
We've been covered by RVA Mag, Style Weekly, PBS, CBS 6 News multiple times. We've brought cyphers and events to the ICA, VMFA, and quite a few other venues outside of our home venues. Strange Matter, Champion Brewery, and The Hofheimer building. Our open cypher has 30 emcees competing every month, traveling from all over Virginia and the DMV.
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What does Black Music mean to you?
Black Music IS MUSIC. Almost all forms of music were originated by black people, and our influence in music is immeasurable.
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Anything else we should know?
Just know that RVA Rap Elite is going to continue to evolve, and grow, and to serve our music and arts community and culture for many years to come, and we appreciate any and all help with that process.
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Please list any social media profiles/websites.
Our website is Rvarapelite.com You can find us on IG at @rvarap.elite and twitter at @Rvarapelite