In 2017, we can no longer imagine the musical landscape in Belgium, nor further afield, with out hip-hop in it. The worldwide attention in recent years for artists like Kendrick Lamar and Drake has made the genre even hotter than ever. It wasn't always that way: after 40 years, hip-hop has finally attained the position it deserves, even if it was hard going . Some said hip-hop was only about drugs, violence and bravado. Rappers like Kendrick Lamar and Joey Bada$$ absolutely prove the contrary, and the general public realises that the genre has a deeper message than simply ‘trouble’ and ‘misery’.
That is exactly where the story of All Eyes On Hiphop begins. Founder Willem Vandesande started with his concept in 2005 and these days it guarantees quality hip-hop and to-be-discovered artists. AEOHH doesn't necessarily want to fill a gap in the market, but rather blow a fresh wind through the hip-hop scene in Belgium. Vandesande programs both local talent and internationl guests that he reckons will be the ‘the next big thing’.
After visits to various venues in Ghent (White Cat, Charlatan and Vooruit), AEOHH brings the same vibe to other cities in Belgium. Vandesande has already organised parties and shows in Antwerp and Brussels. AEOHH was very successful in other cities too. What's more, AEOHH won a Red Bull Elektropedia Award in 2016 for ‘Best Party’.
This year a collaboration between AB and All Eyes On Hip Hop was established. So we've already had a visit from the fantastic Shabazz Palaces in the AB Club and last Sunday ‘your rapper’s favourite rapper’ Devin The Dude appeared on stage here. It's a collaboration that we reckon will yield even more awesome artists. AB and AEOHH will soon be inviting two fantastic (atypical) hip-hop producers: Kutmah & Samiyam.
Kutmah has worked with the likes of The Gaslamp Killer and Jonwayne. Samiyam has then worked with the likes of Flying Lotus and Joey Bada$$. Are you as curious as we as to how this will turn out? Then be sure to come see, in the AB Club on 2 February 2018 !
