2008 CPHHA NEWS ARTICLE IN TODAY’S YORK DAILY RECORDYork pops and glides into hip-hop awards .Article Launched: 03/20/2008 .. language=JavaScript> var requestedWidth = 0; ..> .. language=JavaScript> if(requestedWidth < 300){ requestedWidth = 300; } ..> Anthony Herndon, left, looks on while Daquan Haynes does a flip at CrossRoads Youth Center. (Daily Record/Sunday News - Paul Kuehnel).. language=JavaScript> if(requestedWidth > 0){ document&183;getElementById(’articleViewerGroup’).style. width = requestedWidth + "px"; document&183;getElementById(’articleViewerGroup’).style. margin = "0px 0px 10px 10px"; } ..>CrossRoad’s West King Street studio looked like the set of a dance competition last Wednesday. Hip-hop beats blasted from a boom box as Da Underground Dancers broke it down -- popping, gliding, stepping, spinning and busting splits.The members, who tune into MTV’s "America’s Best Dance Crew," are nominated for Best Crew in the Central Pennsylvania Hip-Hop Awards Saturday. They’ll also represent York with a performance to kick off the show.The crew comprises a dozen teens who attend the after-school program at CrossRoads Youth Center. The program is in its first year."It’s a way to keep kids off the streets," dance instructor Stephanie Giles said. "It’s a safe outlet."The dancers are just one of many York artists, businesses,Dwayne Muhammad is the mastermind behind the Central Pennsylvania Hip-Hop Awards. He’s organized hip-hop award shows in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and a dozen other locations across the country. (Daily Record/Sunday News - Paul Kuehnel)promoters and studios up for awards. York hip-hop veterans like DJ Smash and New York and Willie Standley, owner of The New Hub on South George Street, will be recognized along with up-and-comers. Genres like rap, inspirational/gospel, Latin, R&B and spoken word poetry are on the ballot.Courtney Kinard, aka Chantz Kacey, is nominated for the first time in two categories -- Best Male Singer and MySpace Artist of the Year. The "York born and raised" artist had a stint on MTV’s "Making the Band 4" in 2007 when he made it to the top 22 contestants. He said the experience jump-started his career.Kinard said he can’t wait to meet and mingle with other artists Saturday night."I want to show support," he said. "I wish everyone the best."Networking is what the awards are all about, said Harry Colon, owner of the Da Underground Clothing & Music on East Market Street in York.Colon, aka Harry O, met about 20 artists, including Big Skeem from Lancaster and Da Ritt from Harrisburg, at last year’s event. Colon also walked away with the award for Mover and Shaker of the Year.The 2007 show brought out about 900 people -- in a snowstorm no doubt, organizer Dwayne Muhammad said.With last year’s success, the 2008 awards are even bigger, covering a wider geographic area. New categories were added for MySpace pages, hair salons and other businesses.With more than 3,000 nominations across 29 categories, Muhammad was able to include more nominees per category.After voting closes Friday, a committee of six members from the local music industry will select the winners.The number of votes and effort put forth by each nominee this year are taken into consideration to make judging more fair, Muhammad said.The goal is not just to recognize winners, but to create a musical melting pot among communities in central Pennsylvania.-- ERIN McCRACKEN, FLIPSIDE STAFF
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PLEASE READ !IN PERFECT HARMONY : ) (ITS ABOUT UNITY!)Two downtown music stores work together for better business.By CHARLOTTE TUCKERDaily Record/Sunday NewsWhen Earl Williams wanted to purchase a downtown York music store, he turned to his friend of 10 years Harry Colón for advice. And for his blessing.Colón, owner of Da Underground, a music store on East Market Street, was only too happy to oblige.No worries about competition. If anything, Colón said, he welcomed Williams."My store is strictly urban," said Colón, who is also known as Harry O. "I sell mostly hip-hop, R&B and Spanish music. But Earl, he sells country, alternative, rock. ... If I get somebody who wants something I don't have, I send them to him. We help each other out. We're trying to show unity."Williams said he considers his shop, which used to be MRT Music, a convenience store for music. Rather than having to schlep out to the malls in the suburbs, city residents can walk to his shop to get what they need."It keeps the money in the city," he said.Williams said he wouldn't have been able to make his business work without Colón, whom he calls his mentor."When I first got in the business, I wentto him and said 'I just want to pick your brain.'" Even now, three months after the opening of Music & More by Williams, the two men estimate that they speak on the phone or see each other four times a week.Williams, 36, said their unofficial partnership works well because they both have larger interests at heart. They want their businesses to succeed, but they also want to help their communities, he said.Colón, a longtime sponsor of youth sports, encouraged Williams to co-sponsor a youth basketball team of his own so they can square off in friendly competition. Williams said giving young people opportunities is one of his primary goals.
CHECKOUT INTERVIEW @http://www.myspace.com/vigoronlineLORD OF DA UNDERGROUNDHarry " O" Colon is hip-hop. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Boogie Down Bronx, known as the birthplace of rap music, Colon owns Da Underground, an independent music store on 683 E. Market St. in York.York's urban music scene was buzzing on May 17 when VigorOnline pulled up to Da Underground to hear Alicia Keys' "Teenage Love Affair" blasting from a wooden speaker that stood outside of the store's door. Hip-hop heads can also get their grooming on at World A Cuts, an awarding-winning barbershop located next door to the Da Underground. On the other side of town, an auto show, including a DJ battle, took place.When Colon's not running his store along with his sons (Justin, 18, and Harry Jr., 21) he's lending a hand to people in the local music community. After the auto show, Colon, aka "Harry OO," held a networking event at his store replete with a DJ, food, drinks and open mic. "I don't just work inside of York," the 40-year-old owner said about helping his colleagues. "I reach out to [other areas]. I do it for the love of the game." Not surprisingly, the Central PA Hip Hop Awards (CPHHA) named him mover and shaker for 2007 and 2008. Colon also received the pioneer award from the CPHHA in 2007.And he doesn't limit his store to albums and mixtapes (Colon gave VigorOnline two bangin' mixtapes that day). He also sells DVDs, oils, incense, sneakers, tickets for local events, and most recently, New Era fitted baseball caps.Shake it like a Polaroid pictureInside Da Underground, rap magazine pages, posters and pictures wallpaper the store. Some of the photos show Colon posing with celebrities, such as DJ Pete Rock and dancing machine Chris Brown. Colon also has a Polaroid picture collection that chronicles his 11 years of business at Da Underground. He stopped his collection after he invested in a digital camera, he explained. He might not have a current Polaroid collection anymore, but he has swagger—before VigorOnline took photos of Colon, he threw on his shades. Now that's hip-hop.http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.vi ew&friendID=167148441&blogID=436745673 ^ PIC^MUCH LOVE TO LEON FOR HIS TIME
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