Arts Beats + Lyrics

Huge art displays are just one of the many different exhibitions you’ll see at Arts Beats +Lyrics. Photo courtesy of Jabari Graham, Arts Beats + Lyrics.

Traveling art exhibitions are few and far between. Urban art exhibitions are even rarer. But on March 26, the Atlanta-born Arts Beats + Lyrics (AB+L) urban arts show breaks through those barriers as it makes its way to the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC.

Originally conceived as an alternate mode of urban expression that specifically avoids the commercial sins of skinny jeans-wearing rappers, tricked-out cars, scantily clad females, and gross exploitation, the appeal of AB+L is the attraction to a pure and unadulterated vision of what the hip hop community should look like through the eyes of some very enthusiastic and passionate individuals who view the current state of hip hop as tragically misguided and unfaithful to its origins. And it is free to the public.

In fact, the website tells an almost epic tale of how art and music were once the possession of the people but were lost to the marketplace of the greedy elite. “At this point the artist lost control of his creation” – so says the website – and thus the struggle to right this wrong finds its full expression in AB+L.

Established in 2004, AB+L is the vision of Jabari Graham who needed a plan B when he lost his job. That plan has matured into a show that first gained attention in Atlanta’s Little Five Points District. After packing a few shows in the city, it was time to take his show on the road – literally. Working closely with his business partner Dwayne “Dubelyoo” Wright, the show, which is sponsored by Jack Daniels, highlights both national and regional talent and includes art displays of varying sizes, including graffiti artists, b-boys, break dancers, and hip hop performers. One display might contain a variety of intricately painted boom boxes while right next to it a display of low rider bicycles pushes the limits of art and functionality.

Featured artists include graphic designers like Eric Nine, whose creative works of art travel along with the show, even when he can’t be there.

“My opportunity to be a featured artist happened when I did a portrait of J-Dilla, a legendary hip hop icon, which was presented to his mother by DJ Rasta Roots who showed it to Dubelyoo,” Nine explained.

Nine is only one of many artists whose work will be on display. The canvasses upon which these artists create their art are as random as the art work is unique. As Nine said, “The possibilities are limitless.”

This event is free and open to the public, but you must be 21 to enter. For more information about them, visit their website at www.artbeatsandlyrics.com.

Gentleman Jack Art Beats + Lyrics will take place on March 26 from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium: 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, DC; 202 369-5695; www.mellonauditorium.com

[googleMap name="Andrew Mellon Auditorium" width="770" height="235" mousewheel="false"]1301 Constitution Ave. NW, DC[/googleMap]