Spreading Hip-Hop at Rye

By Alexia Kapralos

For third-year journalism student Eric Zaworski, hip-hop is more than just a music genre – it’s a way of life.

Zaworski is the creative director of the first Canadian chapter of the Student Hip-Hop Organization (SHHO) — a new student group that launched on Nov. 8. at Ryerson.

“We want to bring large hip-hop artists to Ryerson…it should be feasible because we’re at an accessible location in the city,” said Zaworski.

SHHO, an independent student group that is entirely self-funded, started in 2006 at Virginia Commonwealth University, having 12 chapters across the United States, with Ryerson as the 13th. It celebrates hip-hop culture and discusses what’s hot and new in the hip-hop scene.

Previously, the American chapters of SHHO have brought artists such as Wiz Khalifa, Kid Cudi, Main Attrakionz, and Five One to universities. Exactly who’s to come perform at Ryerson is still unknown.

Ryerson’s chapter of SHHO has interviewed Elaquent, a Guelph artist, so far and plans to interview more artists in the future.

Zaworski said he wants to organize concerts at the Ram in the Rye or outside of Ryerson, make podcasts, interview artists, have gallery nights, and have DJ nights.