Students and community members stepped up to the mic Wednesday night at Spurlock Museum, turning the Central Core Gallery into a full-scale hip-hop stage for “And Ya’ Don’t Stop! Hip Hop Karaoke.”
The free event, hosted by DJ Tat and partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, was held from 7 to 10 p.m. and invited attendees to perform rap solos and group numbers.
Participants scanned a QR code through the karaoke platform KaraFun to add songs to the queue. Some rapped solo, others formed duets or groups, drawing cheers as they walked to the front of the auditorium-style space.
Julieanne Ehre, assistant director for program and engagement at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, shared the meaning behind the event.
“We really want to build community, create more inclusivity and celebrate Black culture,” Ehre said. “We hope to bring various people together across campus to enjoy some great hip-hop.”
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One performer sang “Look at Me Now” by Chris Brown, tackling rapid-fire verses as the crowd clapped along. A duet took on “Shoop” by Salt-N-Pepa. Later in the evening, attendees performed songs by House of Pain, Kendrick Lamar and other hip-hop artists.
Spurlock Museum staff also took part in the event, circulating through the crowd and handing out tote bags as attendees filtered in and out of the space.
The event also drew faculty members from across campus.
Pia Hunter, professor in Law, discussed the importance of celebrating hip-hop culture this month.
“It’s Black History Month, and I’ve been trying to attend as many events as possible,” Hunter said. “(The event) has been a blast … I grew up with hip-hop; it’s a part of who I am.”
Throughout Black History Month, the University has hosted a series of events across campus to celebrate and examine Black history and culture.
The University also aims to celebrate hip-hop culture outside of Black History Month.
FAA recently proposed a new major in hip-hop culture and the arts, building on an existing minor and years of interdisciplinary coursework across campus.
If approved, the program will begin accepting transfer students in fall 2026, with plans to recruit a full freshman cohort in fall 2027.
Adam Kruse, professor in FAA and co-director of the Dr. William Patterson Hip-Hop Innovation Center and attendee of the event, sees a place for hip-hop in the classroom.
“As an educator, the most important thing that hip-hop is an emancipatory and an empowering way for young people experiencing many forms of oppression to be able to tell their stories, speak their truths and speak back to the world,” Kruse said.
He said hip-hop holds strong educational potential and emphasized that the culture creates space for everyone, regardless of their interests or background. He also said he hopes attendees left knowing they have a place in hip-hop.
For organizers and faculty alike, the night reflected more than entertainment. It showed how hip-hop continues to build community across campus — not just as music, but as a shared expression.
