#canikickitdc

[shaolinjazz]

The haps for 2nite. . . CAN I KICK IT? screening "Samurai Chsmploo" (episodes 1-4) | 11.27 @songbyrddc | doors at 6:30p + screening begins at 7:15p | no cover | vendor corner by @crochetkingpin . . Info: www.shaolinjazz.com . #shaolinjazz #photoshop #contentmarketing #movienight #event #creative #art #anime #filmfestival #jazz #rock #canikickitdc #musicfestival #hiphop #eventplanner #eventproduction #designstudio #decent #washingtondc #adultswim #TVseries #logodesign #dmvevents #branding #fon https://www.instagram.com/p/BqsnUaenYVM/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1v3ydq4kqtvmm

[dj2tonejones]

.......just so you know.

[outhouseofhorror]

Went to my first show last night and it was awesome! Will be back for more in March #OoH 🤓📼📀🎥🎞️🎬🥋🎧 Credit to @shaolinjazz : You’ve got time and all are welcome!!! . See you tonight at our next CAN I KICK IT? feat “The Black Dragon’s Revenge” starring the 5x Martial Arts Champion Ron Van Clief . Tues Feb 25th / @songbyrddc / Music at 6:30 PM / Film at 7:30 PM . Info/RSVP: www.shaolinjazz.com . #shaolinjazz #canikickitdc #howwewatch #mytuesisbetterthanyours #ronvanclief #event #martialarts #eventdesign #hiphopevent #washingtondc #nationscapital #hiphopparty #kungfutheater #kungfucinema #dc #adamsmorgan #moviehouse #dcliving #nightlife #rockmusic #soulmusic #funkmusic #barfood — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2HTN634

[shaolinjazz]

Less than 20 tickets left on this ride. Who's boppin' with me? . . SHAOLIN JAZZ presents a special CAN I KICK IT? screening of the 1979 cult classic "The Warriors" on Saturday, Dec 8th @kennedycenter . For tix and additional info: shaolinajazz.com . . . #canikickitdc #mytuesisbetterthanyours #shaolinjazz #shaolinjazz #martialarts #nightlife #movienight #event #creative #art #filmfestival #jazz #rock #canikickitdc #musicfestival #hiphop #eventplanner #eventproduction #dcnightlife #dcevents #dmvnights #soundtrack #washingtondc #kungfu #dmvevents #pr #media #hiphopculture #kencenhiphop #coneyisland #dc https://www.instagram.com/p/BqsWYN4nDa7/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1w8vv8amccbi6

[shaolinjazz]

Tomorrow (Friday, Aug. 3rd) SHAOLIN JAZZ will be featured at the #Smithsonian @FreerSackler Gallery's 23rd Annual Made in Hong Kong Film Festival on with a live DJ set by @DJ2ToneJones at 5pm alongside a live #martialarts demo, then at 7pm a special CAN I KICK IT? screening featuring "Legendary Weapons of Kung Fu" by #ShawBros. . Info/RSVP shaolinjazz.com . . . #hongkong #shaolinjazz #martialarts #nightlife #movienight #event #creative #art #datenight #filmfestival #jazz #rock #canikickitdc #musicfestival #hiphop #eventplanner #eventproduction #dcnightlife #dcevents #dmvnights #dcsummer #soundtrack #washingtondc #kungfu #smithsonian #dmvevent

[shaolinjazz]

CAN I KICK IT? / Innovative events featuring Martial Arts Films reimagined with a live score by @DJ2ToneJones / The evolution of sound syncing has arrived / Info: shaolinjazz.com/canikickit/

[shaolinjazz]

“Hip-hop has a real focus on authenticity, but I hadn’t seen the authentic martial arts combined with hip-hop. As a martial artist coming into hip-hop, I really felt like I was embodying the mantra of rap is a martial art.” - Philippe Prosper

SHAOLIN JAZZ got a chance this week to chop it up with internationally decorated kung-fu artist and rapper, Philippe Prosper, aka Rap Is A Martial Art.

Interview by Mychal Estrada.  For the full read 

Growing up in a military family based out of Haiti, Prosper got into martial arts at a very young age via his father, who was an instructor at one of the first mixed martial arts gyms in the country. From jiu jitsu to muay thai, and eventually Shaolin kung fu, Prosper took to the martial arts and quickly moved on from it being a hobby to something integral to his life. His introduction to hip-hop wasn’t as smooth.

“When I came to the U.S. as a kid, my father hated rap music; all he saw were the stereotypes in music videos and when rap came on the radio he’d always change the channel. It was seen as a bad thing.”

Eventually, through friends who were into rap music, he was exposed to the Slim Shady LP from Eminem. It was this album that showed Prosper the more technical side of rapping, which he gravitated towards.

“It blew my mind that someone could do that with words. I was always into poetry and I just thought to myself ‘how did [Eminem] do that?’ That got me into writing my own rhymes and the itch stuck with me. I also saw the impact of the arts on culture, rappers had so much influence on people and that was big draw for me. People would be so responsive to the rappers.”

Just like with his martial arts training, Prosper threw himself fully into mastering his craft as an emcee. His early influences, along with Eminem, were artists like Big Pun and MF DOOM. It was then that he realized similarities between the swaggering fighters like Jet Li, from his favorite film Fist Of Legend, who would fight a room full of challengers without breaking a sweat, and the rappers who carried the same boldness on the mic.

“Hip-hop is very competitive and comes from a revolutionary place. So some of the things that attracted me to martial arts movies were the same with hip-hop: having a lot of bravado and mastering your craft. The people I looked up to in rap - you could tell they spent so much time mastering their craft, really putting time and work into their music. Just like the martial artists in the movies I saw as a kid.”

Already a decorated kung fu practitioner, who trained in the southern style hung fut under Grandmaster Tai Yim, Prosper now combines his expertise in martial arts with his music, under the banner Rap is A Martial Art. Aside from choreographing fight scenes in martial arts movies and live kung fu demonstrations, Prosper is preparing to release his first mixtape.

"With this mixtape, my goal was just to rap my head off. With my music, I want you to feel what I felt when I first got into martial arts. I want to raise the bar and challenge people. I don’t want to impress you, but inspire you. I’m a competitive person and I want people to feel that. I think about how the music will affect people, trying to write music that won’t be passive. With the more intricate flows, you really have to pay attention to what I’m saying to catch it and once you do, you can get to the deeper stories and issues."

Prosper is now linking up with SHAOLIN JAZZ for their final CAN I KICK IT? summer film screening, in conjunction with Downtown DC Bid. When asked what audiences can expect from a Rap is A Martial Art demonstration, Prosper says “there’s a mix of kung-fu and rapping. I’ll be doing a weapon’s set, with a demonstration fight scene.”

Much like DJ 2-Tone Jones’ live mixing of hip-hop music and classic martial arts movies, Prosper is bringing together the two worlds into a seamless, exciting experience for all.

Catch Philippe “Rap is A Martial Art” Prosper performing live, this Tuesday, June 27th at SHAOLIN JAZZ’s summer CAN I KICK IT? screening of the film Big Trouble in Little China, in conjunction with Downtown DC Bid. Festivities begin at Freedom Plaza starting at 7:30 PM, with the film starting at 8:30 PM.

To learn more about Philippe Prosper, check out his music, and learn about his upcoming projects click here.

And to learn more about SHAOLIN JAZZ, our upcoming screening of Big Trouble in Little China, and all projects click here.

[shaolinjazz]

Even though it was a heater of a day it was great to see some familiar faces as well as some new ones yesterday at Freedom Plaza. Thank you to everyone who attended (we certainly hope that you enjoyed the experience), props to DowntownDC for holding everything down, and much appreciated to all of our media partners and everyone who's helped spread the word. 

Now, if you haven't been able to attend we certainly hope that you can make one, as next Tues June 20th we'll be screening Barry Gordy's timeless classic The Last Dragon starring Vanity and Taimak.

Also on for next week, join us for a special Axel F​ set prior to the screening. DJ Stylus will set the vibe with an early 80's mix and special AxelF "treats" will be on hand to sweeten the night. For more on AxelF log onto: www.axelfparty.com.

For more about SHAOLIN JAZZ click here and for info about next Tuesday’s screening of The Last Dragon click here.

[shaolinjazz]

June 2017 has been a milestone month for SHAOLIN JAZZ in that our CAN I KICK IT? engagement, which started as a simple idea developed during one of our college trips in MA, has grown into an event that's rocked hundreds of people in our hometown, on one of the most iconic national monuments in our nation's capital.  Simply put, we made something out of nothing, which is precisely how SHAOLIN JAZZ even started.  And we were able to add to the creative cultural fabric of our city and share it with friends and family which is uniquely special.  To view the full recap click here.

[shaolinjazz]

Props to all of those involved, everyone who attended and the heads who helped spread the word about the Kung Fu Wildstyle Kickoff on Saturday at Hyphen. A full recap is coming soon.

[shaolinjazz]

THERE'S ONLY 5 TICKETS LEFT! (in a Busta Rhymes voice). . . SHAOLIN JAZZ teams up with @kennedycenter for a special CAN I KICK IT? screening of the 1979 cult classic "The Warriors" on 12/8/18. . For tix and additional info: shaolinajazz.com . . . #canikickitdc #mytuesisbetterthanyours #shaolinjazz #shaolinjazz #martialarts #nightlife #movienight #event #creative #art #filmfestival #jazz #rock #canikickitdc #musicfestival #hiphop #eventplanner #eventproduction #dcnightlife #dcevents #dmvnights #soundtrack #washingtondc #kungfu #dmvevents #pr #media #hiphopculture #kencenhiphop https://www.instagram.com/p/BqvTB-tBPIi/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1lwfrs50etynn

[shaolinjazz]

We are about to sell out! There's less than 30 TICKETS LEFT! Cop yours today and join us for an incredible night at the Kennedy Center. . . SHAOLIN JAZZ presents a special CAN I KICK IT? screening of the 1979 cult classic "The Warriors" on Saturday, Dec 8th @kennedycenter . For tix and additional info: shaolinajazz.com . . . #canikickitdc #mytuesisbetterthanyours #shaolinjazz #shaolinjazz #martialarts #nightlife #movienight #event #creative #art #filmfestival #jazz #rock #canikickitdc #musicfestival #hiphop #eventplanner #eventproduction #dcnightlife #dcevents #dmvnights #soundtrack #washingtondc #kungfu #dmvevents #pr #media #hiphopculture #kencenhiphop https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqpk2l8HUu_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1l5zv89hv6t4c

[shaolinjazz]

Now there's less than 70 tickets left! Don't get caught slippin' and miss out on this one-night-only moment of culture. . . SHAOLIN JAZZ presents a special CAN I KICK IT? screening of the 1979 cult classic "The Warriors" on Saturday, Dec 8th @kennedycenter . For tix and additional info: shaolinajazz.com . . . #canikickitdc #mytuesisbetterthanyours #shaolinjazz #shaolinjazz #martialarts #nightlife #movienight #event #creative #art #filmfestival #jazz #rock #canikickitdc #musicfestival #hiphop #eventplanner #eventproduction #dcnightlife #dcevents #dmvnights #soundtrack #washingtondc #kungfu #dmvevents #pr #media #hiphopculture #kencenhiphop https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqdujkwhfzd/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=h1qgkgbnpgi0

[shaolinjazz]

Over 275 tickets sold and less than 150 left. Get yours today before they sell out (because it will sell out)! ・・・ SHAOLIN JAZZ teams up with @kennedycenter for a special CAN I KICK IT? screening of the 1979 cult classic "The Warriors" on 12/8/18. . For tix and additional info: shaolinajazz.com . . . #canikickitdc #mytuesisbetterthanyours #shaolinjazz #shaolinjazz #martialarts #nightlife #movienight #event #creative #art #filmfestival #jazz #rock #canikickitdc #musicfestival #hiphop #eventplanner #eventproduction #dcnightlife #dcevents #dmvnights #soundtrack #washingtondc #kungfu #dmvevents #pr #media #hiphopculture #kencenhiphop https://www.instagram.com/p/BqLUcKoH2-Z/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=15o4z4afghdem

[shaolinjazz]

Tonight join us for a special CAN I KICK IT on Halloween! We will be screening "A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 3: The Dream Warriors"| @songbyrddc | 8-11pm | Free . Info: www.shaolinjazz.com . . #shaolinjazz #photoshop #contentmarketing #movienight #event #creative #art #freddykrueger #filmfestival #jazz #rock #canikickitdc #musicfestival #hiphop #eventplanner #eventproduction #designstudio #decent #washingtondc #horrormovies #logodesign #dmvevents #branding #font https://www.instagram.com/p/BpnAZqCB2WY/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=wxakfbk81bqk

[shaolinjazz]

Tonight join us for a special CAN I KICK IT on Halloween! We will be screening "A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 3: The Dream Warriors"| @songbyrddc | 8-11pm | Free . Info: www.shaolinjazz.com . . #shaolinjazz #photoshop #contentmarketing #movienight #event #creative #art #freddykrueger #filmfestival #jazz #rock #canikickitdc #musicfestival #hiphop #eventplanner #eventproduction #designstudio #dcevents #graphicdesign #washingtondc #horrormovies #logodesign #dmvevents #branding #font https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpmxsm7BoOq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=jh1vajgn9vej