Join us for a screening of Or Does It Explode?, a documentary produced by Elementz that uses hip-hop culture to explore Cincinnati’s past, present, and future while honoring those who paved the way and confronting ongoing social justice issues.

Following the film, stay for a dynamic discussion with Damian Hoskins and two community activists as they unpack the documentary’s themes and reflect on the role of art and storytelling in fostering community change. This event offers a unique opportunity to engage with local history, creative expression, and conversations about social justice.

The Queen City was struck with unrest after the killing of 19-year-old Timothy Thomas at the hands of Cincinnati Police. As protests, rioting, and looting occurred in response to the 15th black man to be killed by CPD within a 5 year span, there was a huge spotlight on Cincinnati for the wrong reasons. A change was needed to address the tainted relationship between the inner city and CPD.

A year after Thomas’ death, Copwatch was founded by Islord Allah, Life Allah, Gavin Leonard and Dureka Bonds. It was an effort to hold police accountable for their interactions with the community via camcorders. There were also lessons given on how to properly interact with police in order to hopefully walk away unscathed, but there was something missing to completely bridge the communities together.

After conducting surveys within the community on a tether that could empower everyone, Hip-Hop culture was a constant theme. So after finding a location and financial support, Elementz was born on the corner of Central Parkway and Liberty. Named after the 5 elements of Hip-Hop (Emcee, Breakdance, Deejaying, Graffiti, and Knowledge of Self), Cincinnati’s center for Hip-Hop culture became a staple in the city. With Islord Allah named as the first Director, Elementz grew into a landmark of Hip-Hop culture, gaining respect and collaboration from national Hip-Hop acts such as Killer Mike, Wu-Tang Clan, Talib Kweli and many more.

Leading into the 2010s following financial hardships, leadership over Elementz was passed onto Brother Abdullah, who started out as a volunteer-turned instructor- turned director. Alongside Tom Kent, Elementz gained more finances and notoriety throughout Cincinnati, leading many creatives into leadership positions around the city.

Following the pandemic in 2020, Elementz leadership was passed onto Damian Hoskins, who led Elementz into their first center that they own. With a bright future on the horizon, Elementz continues to build on the legacy of what came before, and continues to prove just how powerful Hip-Hop culture is.