Under the Influence

Connections between hip-hop and the "green" lifestyle generally refer to, well, reefer. In the rare instance when "eco" does get hype, it's usually during a streetside purchase of misspelled Ecko gear. But tonight, Urban Allyance aims to prove that environmental awareness and consciousness mean more to hip-hop heads than merely knowing your neighborhood and coming to after a massive inhale. Urban Allyance Presents is an event that's devoted to sustainability and promoting a positive image of hip-hop culture. Graffiti artist and Urban Allyance organizer Ayinde Chong grew up among the gritty clamor of Brooklyn, the birthplace of hip-hop. Now a resident of Boulder, the high-altitude haven for eco-friendly party people, Chong and his partner, Ralf Schuetz, decided to combine the positive elements of both locales in a public exhibition of conscious hip-hop. With musical performances by Seattle's smooth-throated wordsmith Macklemore and Boulder's own reggae-infused hip-hop group Freedom Movement, as well as live body painting and graffiti by the RTD and SOM crews, Urban Allyance Presents looks to deliver a fresh dose of green without any negative side effects. The show starts at 8 p.m. at Trilogy Wine Bar & Lounge, 2017 13th Street in Boulder; admission is $10. Visit www.trilogywinebar.com or call 303-473-9463.
Fri., Feb. 8, 9 p.m., 2008