Hip Hop For The Homeless Begins Year Eight

The State House was the setting Thursday night for the first of seven Hip Hop for the Homeless shows, an annual live event created by Hartford’s Joey Batts to raise money, food, and clothing for those in need throughout Connecticut.

Last year’s event happened virtually due to Covid, and Batts — who brings the event to New Haven yearly — was thrilled to be back at an actual venue for year eight.

“The people who do this each year … we’re like family,” said Batts. ​“It’s a small state but we don’t get to see each other much. We selfishly want to see each other and share our music with each other while helping these programs out. The next few days are going to be a whirlwind of emotions, energy and good vibes.”

Those shows, each with a different lineup, include Simsbury tonight, New London on Saturday, Manchester on Dec. 8, Hartford on Dec. 9, New Britain on Dec. 10, and Norwich on Dec. 11. Money, food, and clothing gathered at each will be donated to a charity in each of those communities.

But first up was New Haven. Thursday’s show began with a DJ MoNiklz set that included a mashup of videos as well as music. Batts gathered donations and sold shirts commemorating the event. Each year the shirts — which have become a highly collectible item for many — are a different color scheme. This year’s were what the evening’s host Sketch Tha Cataclysm noted were ​“Kobe’s colors,” yellow and purple.

Sketch introduced the first act, producer/DJ Ch’Varda, by joking that he had only learned tonight that she was from Waterbury like himself. He also mentioned her new single, ​“Half Electric,” which was out now. Ch’Varda tore through a rousing set that included that ethereal bop as well as super fun mixes of many classics, including tunes by Ruff Ryders and Jadakiss that got the crowd singing and moving along while Ch’Varda herself grooved to the music. By the time she was through everyone was more than sufficiently warmed up for the rest of the evening.

Bridgeport’s own Chef the Chef came to the stage next to share a set, in which he talked to the audience about supporting each other, artists and otherwise, as well is yourself.

“Everything you do means something,” he said. Throughout his set he conversed with the crowd, even offering a song he said was about ​“introspective shit … something to think about on the drive home.” No matter what Chef gave to the audience, including songs like ​“Drop It Low” and ​“Savage,” he did it with an obvious joy and love for the words and the people he was giving them to. He left the stage smiling and people couldn’t help but smile back.

“This is that awkward moment,” said Sketch Tha Cataclysm as he returned to the stage ​“This next set I’m a part of.” He then introduced Deto-22, who along with Sketch makes up The 50x50s. Deto had a few words to say himself.

“This is a great goddamn thing,” he said, referring to the event, which he added was the first Hip Hop for the Homeless he had ever performed at. He added later that this and another show this month marked a return to performing after 11 years.

Sketch noted that he had performed all eight years of Hip Hop for the Homeless, including multiple times in one year. He was wearing his shirt from year two.

The 50x50s, with music provided by MoNiklz, made its way through a set of new and old material, including ​“Red Eye” and ​“Kolsch,” which were released in March of this year, both with accompanying videos. The duo danced and trading off vocals on their beat-driven and lyrically luscious set of songs that engrossed the crowd while also getting them to dance along with them.

Sketch remained on stage to introduce the next act, Mr. Ivory Snow. He mentioned Snow was celebrating the 10th anniversary of his first album, Sex After Smoking, and celebrating a birthday soon. Snow told the crowd it was his birthday on Dec. 8, and being that this was the eighth year of this fundraiser, he noted ​“this is symbolic right here.”

Snow asked the crowd to come closer, to raise their hands, to wave their arms. They did everything he asked while he proceeded through a set of songs that included the sexy title track from the album whose anniversary he was also celebrating. He noted that he hadn’t been on stage in a while and was ​“excited to be here,” flashing a huge smile. If he hadn’t mentioned that no one would have ever known; his exuberance and energy were off the charts for the entire set and infectious to the crowd, who received him with gratitude..

“I’ve done two EPs with this cat without ever meeting him,” said Sketch about the final act of the night, Mandy Moorehol, who mentioned that he had opened last year’s virtual show and was now closing this year’s live one. ​“New Haven’s been good to me,” Moorehol added, while also joking with the small but dedicated crowd that remained to keep the energy up because he ​“had a long ride home.”

Moorehol had no problem keeping the energy up himself as he performed a set of songs with topics ranging from Connecticut weather to philosophy, occasionally banging on a drum and asking for accompanying claps from the audience. Sketch joined him for his first song, but the majority of his set was dedicated to new music he said he would be recording on Monday for an album to be released in April 2022. ​“You’re experiencing them fresh like I am,” he added.

By the end of the night, the side of the stage held numerous large bags of coats, clothing, and canned goods, and Sketch announced they had gathered over $200 in monetary donations, which would be going to Columbus House.

“You guys gonna be here for year nine?” he asked the audience. He would be; so would Batts. So would so many. 

Hip Hop for the Homeless 8 continues tonight in Simsbury. For more information about that show and the others please visit their Facebook page.