A Hip Hop Thanksgiving

It is 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 22nd, one day before Thanksgiving. A big group of cars have just arrived in the parking lot of the James Smith community center. A Thanksgiving community dinner is being held by a committee of young people in an hour. Before the community dinner begins a bunch of the children have decided to have group rapping cypher for fun in celebration for the occasion. Four of the young kids will be headlining this event including: Bags Russell, Barfest, MC Hunger and Mic Ripper.

Everyone makes their way inside of the building and heads to the gym. As all the young kids gather around in a big circle a DJ named DJ Master Mix begins to kick off the event. “Ight everybody quiet down we bout to get this thing started. We go four dope emcees in the house here to kick off this thanksgiving cypher: Bags Russell, Barfest, MC Hunger and Mic Ripper.” After Master Mix’s opening statements a small group of kids behind him start beatboxing behind him to commence the sounds of the cypher. “Bags” Master Mix begins “Its on you”. As everyone starts nodding to the beat, Bags Russell begins freestyling his verse:

Bags: “Happy Thanksgiving. Y’all know we really need the food. Greens, beans- you know how it is, that Shirley Ceaser food. If grand mama get the plate, I swear I’ma rip the plate, don’t leave ya food around me, that’s a big mistake. Gimme them to-go plates, I think I need so mo’ plates, but first I gotta make sure that all of my folks ate. If you not eatin for the holiday you ain’t livin’. Gobble up errybody, Happy Thanksgiving.”

Everybody cheered in enjoyment as Bags concluded and Barfest began:

Barfest: “If they mad at yo thanksgiving dinner tell that hater bye. Then go get yaself a slice of sweet potatoe pie. When that food come around we act mad funny. We got some big appetites and we mad hungry. Better get on out the way when see the food. We’ll eat you if you in the way when we eat the food. Don’t get too close to my plate, betta back up off me, unless you’re substituting yourself for macaroni. If thanksgiving was contest with me, you couldn’t mess with me. Nobody could compete, now tell me who ready to eat?”

The crowd clapped for Barfest with enjoyment for his smooth and rhythmic flow, along with the clever end to his verse. As the crowd quieted itself down, MC Hunger began his verse:

MC Hunger: “Too many hours at the plant, my job over worked me. But that’s ok because I’m bout smash on this turkey. This the holiday when mama makin sure the boy fed. Slicing the ham with macaroni and the cornbread. I take this serious and it ain’t no jokin here. Gotta snatch all the food I can before my folks get here. Try touchin’ my food you gettin beat up. I’m super duper hungry and it’s time for me to eat up. Kiss the food goodbye or you can give it a deuce. Now watch me wash it all down with some cranberry juice.”

The crowd once again erupted in applause, but quieted down quickly as the final emcee, Mic Ripper concluded the cypher with his verse:

Mic Ripper: “WHEW!!! Everybody here is hungry for the dinner. It’s thanksgiving, as long as we eat, we all winners. Bring out the salt of the meat like the turkey and ham. Then we’ll finish with the sweet potato pie and the yams. So let’s take a bite. Well baked mac and cheese with cornbread. I’m pretty sure I won’t hate a bite. If you ain’t hungry for thanksgiving you must be dead. Gimme a cup of apple cider and I’ll take it to the head. So let’s make a toast to great food and great living. It’s time to eat up everybody, Happy Thanksgiving.”

As the final emcee concluded everyone erupted in their biggest cheer yet. “And there you have it folks.” DJ Mix Master started. “That’s our Thanksgiving cypher. Now let’s get in this kitchen and start handing out this food.” Everyone followed Mix Master into the kitchen reveling over how much they enjoyed the cypher. The community outside then began arriving at the center to enjoy their Thanksgiving dinner.