Rude Boy Musa x Rakim

Hartford has always been a hub of creative power.  

Webster Theatre is a venue that has attracted hip hop legends and pioneers from around the world, and it is a place in Hartford that felt like home. It is one of those intimate and sacred spaces, where the stage and connection feels alive. It’s a place where hip hop greats pay homage to those that came before them.  

We journeyed to Webster Theater to support our friend and collaborator Rude Boy who opened up the show for Rakim. Rude Boy was one of the first music artists I connected with when I was in my own artistic self-discovery, and on a journey of coming home to myself. 

It was 2008 and I recently had declared a whole creative pathway of being a fashion stylist. For me, fashion styling was a true expression and  an art form founded on the principles of embodying your truest self.  I found fashion, after a transition where I felt lost, and dressing up and styling myself was incredibly healing. 

I easily connected with Rude Boy, (who at the time went by Front Page), at a Producer’s Showcase at 960 in Hartford. The space was ripe with artists of all different genres and producers in CT. Although I may not have known it consciously at that time, however, I knew in my spirit that artistic expression transcended any box, that society tries to put us in. As a child, my first childhood dream was to be an author, and when I was in high school I dreamt of becoming a female battle rapper, and even had a friend offer to write for me. (Epic fail, as I would never sell out like that, lol.) Rude Boy was and is authenticity and truth telling personified, and that night we easily struck up a conversation and stayed connected throughout the years. 

It has been an honor to see Rude Boy, continue to embody authenticity and truth through his music, and all he does years later (we met sometime around 2008/2009). And to continue to support each other on our respective pathways, is divine. 

I walked the venue, of Webster Theatre while awaiting his performance connecting with people naturally, and sparking up conversations. As I was walking through Webster Theatre,  I met RudeBoy’s childhood best friend, members of his creative team and so many other folks who just loved hip hop. 

A pair of friends who produce shows professionally at the Casino. A father son, duo enjoying hip hop. 

A former high school basketball star who could tell me hip hop history. Couples. The joy of being in a celebratory space of hip hop was healing.  And the affirmative words of Rude Boy, Rakim and all artist who performed, reminded me of the power of hip-hop.