PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Hip Hop Week is back for its ninth consecutive year. The annual celebration, from Aug. 20-26, brings the community together for a week of live music and other activities around the city.
The nonprofit FamJam hosted the opening event in Southeast Portland on Tuesday, which featured a live DJ, skateboarding, basketball, arts and crafts, turntables for kids, and free drinks and food.
Other highlights on the calendar include a Skate n Shake at Oaks Park, live performances at Alberta Street Pub and a day-long showcase of hip-hop and comedy at Stage 722 on Southeast 10th Avenue. The 4th Annual Hip Hop, Wine And Chill will also be back. It will be hosted by David Jackson, also known as DJ O.G.ONE, at Abbey Creek Vineyard & Winery in North Plains.
For the full schedule of events, visit Portland Hip Hop Week's website.
How Portland Hip Hop Week started
What started as a single day of celebration has expanded to cover a week. Idris O'Ferrell, who was also known as STARCHILE, founded the Portland Hip Hop Day with David "DJ O.G.ONE" Jackson in 2015. Their aim was to bring divided communities together through the art form of hip-hop, the event's website says. In 2018, the celebration was extended from a day to a week, taking place each year from Aug. 20-26.
Portland native O'Ferrell was a legendary party host and event curator. He died from from cancer in 2018.
Jackson is a DJ, producer, entrepreneur and activist who has been known in the Portland-area for more than 30 years.
