Buffalo Creator Spotlights Women in Buffalo Hip-Hop Scene

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — A Buffalo designer is hoping to inspire women in the industry by hosting an event highlighting their niche in the Queen City.

“You’ll learn not only what they do, but why they do it. In the powerful words of Queen Latifah, Sneakvibing Media presents the second annual Ladies First event.

“It’s entertainment and education coming together,” said Schondra Aytch, founder of Sneakvibing Media, digital creator and writer.

For one night only, Torn Space Theater will be the hub for showcasing Buffalo women in the hip-hop scene.

“It’s a way for me to be able to create a space where women can be celebrated for what they’re doing in the hip-hop scene, especially with Buffalo hip-hop artists who have taken off, signed to labels, is doing amazing things, we want to make sure we highlight everyone, including niche bands in Buffalo,” Aytch said.

This is the second annual “Ladies First” event hosted by Sneakvibing Media.

This project honors 18 women in total.

All 18 women will be included in the 10-minute intermission film during the event.

Four of these women will be the main performers of the evening.

“Visual art by Maggie Giamo. A rapper named Pretty Bulli, a DJ named DJ Lisa Lux, also another DJ named DJ Little Italy and then we also have a break and krump dancer named Yanava Hawkins dancing with a group of dancers Buffalo too,” Aytch said.

The organization’s founder, Schondra Aytch, hopes this new generation of listeners and artists will challenge outdated perspectives of women within the hip-hop community.

“I noticed that being a woman who works in the hip-hop scene and I’m interested in the hip-hop scene, there are a lot of women working behind the scenes but you don’t see them,” Aytch said. .

She makes sure women like Yanava Hawkins get the attention they deserve.

Hawkins said she was using this weekend’s performance as a way to honor and continue her brother’s legacy. His brother Jimmy “Rook” Hawkins was an influential krumper in Buffalo who died in 2022.

“Krump is our foundation just because there’s a lot of emotion in it. I just want to keep his legacy alive and just focus on movement and how people can express themselves through movement,” professional dancer and co -founder of Girl Gang Entertainment LLC Yanava Hawkins said.

Hawkins is part of a trio from three different backgrounds who will perform Saturday.

“I have Stacy who is primarily a b-girl but she also has contemporary, then Natanya, she is a b-girl, temporary, lyrical and my foundation is krump. We are going to use three different dance backgrounds to convey emotions as women and artists,” Hawkins explained. “I’m excited. It’s the start of a big movement, especially for dance. I feel like there’s been a void in the dance community recently. So, I’m ready for it. relaunch.”

The second annual Ladies First event will take place on Saturday, May 11.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

The event runs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Tickets cost $25/person, $10 for students upon presentation of their student ID.

*Tickets are limited.*

More information can be found at Sneakvibing.com.

Real-time updates on all things Sneakvibing Media can be found on the company’s Instagram page here.

The creators/artists/musicians for this year’s Ladies First event can be found via their social media platform below:

Schondra Aytch: @SchondraAtheWriter
Pretty Bulli: @Jolie_Bulli
DJ Lisa Lux: @djlisalux
Yanava Hawkins: @ii_am_navi
Maggie Giamo: @maggiegiamoart
B.Flo-Girls: @b.flogirls