An engaging talk by author Maco Faniel plus a showing of Houston hip hop pioneers made for an enjoyable evening hosted by the University of Houston Bookstore and the UH Libraries. The event, a book talk and signing for Hip-Hop in Houston: The Origin and The Legacy on History Press, drew a crowd of students, librarians, and hip hop artists to the Honors Commons in M.D. Anderson Library on October 17th. The event also served to announce the donations of the DJ Steve Fournier Papers and the Carlos “DJ Styles” Garza Papers to Special Collections, where they will become part of the Houston Hip Hop collecting area.
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- Faniel, currently a PhD student at Rutgers University, spoke eloquently about the significance of Houston as a center for hip hop.
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- DJ Steve Fournier, founder of the Rap Pool of America, recounted his struggles to play hip hop in local clubs.
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- Carlos Garza, better known as DJ Styles, was both a club DJ and producer for the Odd Squad and Devin the Dude.
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- DJ Lil’ Randy of the Screwed Up Click, DJ Wickett Crickett – one of the first to bring hip hop to Houston, and poet Se7en.
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- The audience enjoyed a lively book talk and Q&A with author Maco Faniel.
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- DJ and rapper Icey Hott, of classic Houston group Street Military, with blogger Jonathan Scroggins of A Day and a Dream
