Authenticity

Last night I went to watch a friend perform at a London hip-hop event that showcased works-in-progress from artists working in that culture. The idea behind the night is to give hip-hop performers (rappers, dancers, poets, etc) the chance to develop stage pieces that may one day have a bigger future in front of less sympathetic crowds.

After each piece there was a Q&A and the audience gave focused and positive feedback. The night is run by Jonzi D who has created an environment based on his belief that hip-hop is an authentic dialogue between performer and audience.

It was a quite wonderful experience until the very last act; two sexily-dressed women in the All Saints mold. Incredibly they lip-synched to their song, a vacuous rap about not much at all. They certainly looked great and their dancing was superb but even a newcomer like me could see that they just didn't fit.

Authenticity: we know it when we see it.