Hip Hop For The Homeless Launches Year 11

There are people who talk about helping and change and making the world a better place one day, and then there’s Joey Batts and the CT hip hop community, who for the past 11 years have gathered for a series of shows at multiple venues throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts to actually do it. Hip Hop for the Homeless began its annual December run raising funds and collecting donations for local groups on Thursday night. 

First stop: New Haven’s Cafe Nine, where host for the evening Sketch tha Cataclysm brought forth a healthy and harmonious collection of CT-based hip hop artists to entertain for a worthy cause: Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen.

Last year the group raised over $8,000 total. This year, with nine shows in Connecticut over the next three weeks and one in Northampton, Mass., they are hoping to raise even more. This year Hip Hop for the Homeless became an official nonprofit, and Batts is hoping for nothing but growth and good vibes.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how people respond to our being official, and how eager people are to continue to grow with us,” said Batts before the show began. ​“This is the first year I’m being very intentional about connecting with other nonprofit partners to create a tight-knit community, much like what we’ve created with hip hop.”

Batts manned the merch table. The annual HH4H shirt, in this year’s orange, black and white design, was available for purchase along with a new beanie and stickers. Donations were being collected at the front of the venue as well. The online invitation specifically expressed a need for coats but Batts accepted other clothing and food as well.

The roster of performers for the evening included DJ Mo Niklz (who backed up a number of other performers and warmed up the crowd), the 50X50’s, Jules Baxter, Nico Fuego, Stars of Beyond, Itsjustinmills, Ch’Varda, Tommy V, and Kil-uh-man-jaro. 

Some performed at HH4H for the first time, including producer Kil-uh-man-jaro, who opened with a set of eclectic beats that weaved elements of jazz and Motown in with a more modern sound, and closing act Itsjustinmills, who brought the show to a close with a funky, more danceable sound. 

In between and all through the night, the love and camaraderie were evident, whether it was Sketch introducing Tommy V as ​“one of my favorite human beings” or Tommy himself grabbing David Ramos in the crowd for a dance during one of his songs. He also asked the crowd to help him with a ​“jazz mosh pit”; even as people seemed a bit unsure of what that was, they smiled and participated joyfully. Ramos also joined Tommy for a song; as Tommy played guitar, Ramos held the mic, both singing and laughing and endearing themselves to everyone.

Another one of Sketch’s favorite humans was Ch’varda, who got the ever-growing crowd grooving to her self-produced songs being played by Niklz, including one dedicated to her father, who passed recently. ​“Holding tight to the life force I’m clenching my fist,” she rapped during the song ​“Conspiracy Theories,” but there was no question that this strong and soulful performer had the crowd in the palm of her hand. 

Nico Fuego also dedicated his set to a recently deceased friend who was supposed to be there with him last night. The crowd responded as he asked to gather up closer to the stage to experience his personal and profound lyrics. He let them know that, no matter how bad it got, we were all in this together. 

“If you’re going through the storm, I know what you’re going through,“ he said. ​“I’m going through it too.” 

Batts came to the stage to introduce the 50X50’s, the duo consisting of Sketch and Deto-22 that offered powerful lyrics and a presence that kept the crowd captivated and got them moving along with Sketch as they gathered around him on the dance floor. Jules Baker also spent time down on the floor connecting with the crowd in a more classic hip hop style, getting hyped up and cheered on by friends and fans.

But the biggest response of the night happened for Stars of Beyond, with special guests including Dinco D of the legendary Leaders of the New School. The rest of the packed house got up on their feet and put their hands in the air during the set-ending cover of A Tribe Called Quest’s ​“Scenario.” The venue itself felt like it was jumping along too.

By the end of the evening over $500 was raised and the pile of donations became mountainous. The performances may have been over, but the people lingered, sharing photos and trading numbers and hugs. Community for community, and it had only just begun. 

Hip Hop for the Homeless continues this weekend in Hartford on Friday and in Norwich on Saturday, with dates also scheduled Dec. 11 – 14 in Middletown, Northampton, MA, New Britain, and New London, then Dec. 19 – 21 back in Hartford, Simsbury, and ending in Manchester. For more details see Hip Hop for the Homeless social media.