Culture
Athens Hip-Hop Shop showcased the artistic depth and diversity of hip-hop culture
By: Woohyuk Kong
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — For years, the Hip-Hop Shop brought rappers, spoken-word poets, visual artists and other creatives together at The Union (18 West Union), providing a place for emerging artists to perform, develop their skills and connect with the local hip-hop community.
The recurring event was designed in part to create opportunities for hip-hop artists in a local music scene organizers said offered fewer outlets for the genre. It also served as an entry point for inexperienced performers, giving artists opportunities to take the stage in front of an audience and connect with other musicians and creatives.
The Hip-Hop Shop operated during two distinct periods. Its original run ended after a 2014 fire forced The Union to close for repairs, and the event was revived a decade later in 2024. The revived Hip-Hop Shop has since ended, and there are currently no upcoming events scheduled.
For Hil Hackworth, one of the Hip-Hop Shop’s founders and a member of the rap group DysFunktional Family, the event also provided an opportunity to introduce people to hip-hop as a broader culture rather than simply a genre of music.
“Rap is an element of hip-hop, but hip-hop is a lifestyle,” Hackworth said.
Enter the Hip-Hop Shop
In its early years, the Hip-Hop Shop focused on education about hip-hop history and culture and the circumstances surrounding its development. As a fan of ’90s hip-hop, Hackworth emphasized the importance of understanding the conditions surrounding the genre’s creation.
“Hip-hop is much more than just the rap you hear on the radio, it’s a culture; it’s a lifestyle,” he said.
Along with other members of the DysFunktional Family, including Emcee Schwartz and the late graffiti artist Tito Martino, Hackworth helped start the original Hip-Hop Shop. The event was also supported by the now-defunct Ohio University chapter of Hip-Hop Congress.
In 2014, a fire at The Union forced the venue to close for repairs, effectively ending the original run of Hip-Hop Shop events.
A decade later, in 2024, James Craig, who performs under the name theJackofHearts, approached Hackworth about reviving the Hip-Hop Shop. Craig said he wanted to bring the event back after its long absence.
“There’s so much in Athens, music-wise, for all the genres except hip-hop,” Craig said.
Craig proposed reviving the event with a new focus on developing independent artists.
Hackworth had also wanted to bring back the Hip-Hop Shop but had been unable to restart it. In response to Craig’s proposal, Hackworth said, “If you could be the guy in charge, that’s what we need right now.”
With support from the DysFunktional Family, Craig launched the second iteration of the Hip-Hop Shop in 2024.
Supreme Clientele
The revived Hip-Hop Shop placed a renewed emphasis on providing a platform for artists with little or no experience performing live. Craig described the event as an entry point into the local music scene.
“We’re like your training wheels for the independent hip-hop scene,” he said.
Hackworth emphasized the Hip-Hop Shop’s role as a networking opportunity for emerging artists.
“It’s also not just for rappers but spoken word poets … visual artists … just really anything you’re into,” he said.
Hackworth also cited the Hip-Hop Shop as the site of his own first live performance and said he wanted to provide that same experience for others.
“This is a way for people to come together, network, learn about other artists in the community, and give them a platform to perform,” he said.
Craig said organizers also sought participation from Ohio University students, hoping to rekindle the connection between the Hip-Hop Shop and the local student community.
“We want you to reach out to us; we want you to be a part of what we’re building,” he said.
Craig said participation could provide students with experience and information about aspects of the music industry, including streaming royalties and distribution.
Oliver Yost, a local performer who goes by the name Marb Red, was another artist who got his first opportunity to perform in front of a live audience at a Hip-Hop Shop event. Yost had been posting freestyles on YouTube since seventh grade and learned about the event from his employer.
Yost made his first Hip-Hop Shop appearance in November 2025. Although he described his debut as rocky, Yost continued performing and became a regular at the Hip-Hop Shop, eventually headlining the event on occasion.
He described the Hip-Hop Shop as welcoming and fun, including for people who are not typically outgoing.
All Eyez on Me
Hackworth, Craig and Yost each discussed the importance of hip-hop and its depth as both a culture and a form of expression.
“It’s the voice of the generation. As rock and roll may have been the voice in the past, hip-hop is now,” Hackworth said.
Craig discussed the music he listens to, highlighting the relatability he finds in it.
“I want to listen to music to get me through something … talks about something I can actually relate to,” he said.
Themes of relatability in the music Craig listens to also influence the lyrics he writes. He discussed his perspective as both an artist and a listener, emphasizing the importance of music that speaks to shared experiences.
“It helps you, not only as an artist, but as a listener to understand that you’re not alone in what you’re going through,” he said.
Yost also discussed the influence hip-hop had on him growing up.
“I heard rappers talking about racism, inequality, crime and that really made me think about it and look at what was around me,” he said. “Hip-hop, at its core, is protest music.”
He said that, as a way of giving back to the culture that influenced him, he addresses systemic issues in his own music.
Yost also discussed how the intention behind his lyrics developed as he grew older. His music evolved from recess freestyles about fame and success to songs addressing issues and causes he believes in. During his time performing at the Hip-Hop Shop, Yost used the event as a platform to share those messages with an audience.