Celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop with the Subway Cypher Art Installation
The Subway Cypher, an art installation formerly displayed at Occidental Square Park, was a vibrant tribute to 50 years of Hip Hop culture. This collaborative effort between Vivid Matter Collective and Friends of Waterfront Seattle featured a graffiti-adorned shipping container reminiscent of a subway car, a nod to the genre's roots in New York City.
The installation, conceived by Sneke One, aimed to encapsulate the core elements of Hip Hop: graffiti, music, breakdancing, and DJing. Inside the container, a gallery showcased artwork celebrating Hip Hop legends like MF Doom, DMX, and Missy Elliott.
Beyond its artistic value, the Subway Cypher represented Hip Hop's enduring influence. For artists like Perry Porter, it offered a deeply personal connection to the music that shaped their lives.
Takiyah Ward, a driving force behind the project, described Hip Hop as "the foundation of so many things," emphasizing its significance not only to the collective but also to the broader community. The installation featured a gallery showcasing artwork celebrating Hip Hop legends, reflecting the genre's diverse and influential history.
Ward saw the Subway Cypher as an affirmation of Seattle's vibrant Hip Hop scene, stating, "We're here, we do amazing things, and we represent Seattle, just as much as anybody else." The installation's presence in the historic arts district further solidified Hip Hop's cultural importance.
The Subway Cypher embodied the core elements of Hip Hop: graffiti, music, breakdancing, and DJing. It served as a testament to the genre's power to inspire, unite, and drive creative expression. As Ward aptly put it, Hip Hop "is rhythm. Hip hop is vibe. Hip hop is heartbeat."
This dynamic celebration of 50 years of Hip Hop invited the community to experience its rich history and ongoing influence. The Subway Cypher remained on display for several months, offering a vibrant and engaging tribute to this iconic art form.
