Did you know that November is recognized by many as National Hip-Hop History month?

Did you also know that on November 1^st at The Crocodile there will be a huge kick-off event celebrating Seattle’s rich history of rap music, B-boy and B-girl dance crews, DJ’s and street art?

Well, now you know!

“It is a hip-hop old school reunion with an incredible roster of special guests who were essential to hip-hop’s inception here in Seattle,” says 206 Zulu founder and rapper King Khazm.

Founded in Seattle in 2004, 206 Zulu is a non-profit community organization that uses hip-hop culture and art to engage and educate via a network of individuals whose “shared mission and purpose is to work with and empower local communities,” says the group’s Facebook page. It is a branch of the Zulu Nation, started by Afrika Bambaataa, and the group works with youth, low-income households and people of color through “creative and innovative means, including but not limited to, programs and projects involving music, art and culture.”

“206 Zulu has garnered support with proclamations on behalf of Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Lacey, Bremerton and Washington State,” says Khazm, “and we are continuing to push November as a time to advocate hip-hop’s culture and history as a platform for community empowerment, anti-violence and civic service.”

The event comes at a crucial time when there is both national unrest due to strained race relations and local tensions among Emerald City community members stemming from continued neighborhood gentrification and recent political protests.

“Each November,” continues Khazm, “we encourage engagement with the community, artists, educators, student groups and organizers to host events and discussion forums.”

November 1^st is the kick-off for all these events and will feature Seattle luminaries like Specs Wizard, Gabriel Teodros, Khingz, the 20^th Anniversary of Khazm’s Mad Krew, Nasty Nes and many more.

“We’re trying to bring that hip-hop unity,” says Khazm.

For more information, check out the event page here.