Hip hop karaoke delivers more than music, but gifts to kids in need
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Hundreds of kids in Buffalo will have a merry Christmas, thanks to donations from a karaoke night.
“I think it was the perfect way to cap off the year,” said OJ Barker, co-founder of Hip Hop Karaoke Buffalo.
And what a year it’s been for the founders of Hip Hop Karaoke in Buffalo. What started as an event in a small club, is now selling out venues — literally — on Chippewa Street in downtown Buffalo.
“It brings the sort of flavor that the city needs to see because there’s so much talent,” said Busy Chase, the host of HHK Buffalo.
“This year has been good to us so we wanted to give back,” said Barker.
A toy drive may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you hear hip hop karaoke but in the spirit of giving, organizers offered discounted tickets at $5 if guests brought a toy to donate.
“I mean I knew that people were going to bring toys but I didn’t think everybody was going to bring toys,” said Barker.
“People really went above and beyond. I couldn’t believe what people came through and I think that’s indicative of the heart and culture that we see in this city. People want to go that extra mile and help each other out,” said Donny Arthur, co-founder of Hip Hop Karaoke Buffalo.
Organizers collected 14 bags full of all kinds of toys for less fortunate kids.
“We’re going to be able to bless some kids with toys due to a phone call,” said Pastor Al Wilson, Executive Director of the Martha Mitchell Community Center.
It’s a blessing for Pastor Al Wilson who got the call Monday. For him, Christmas came a day early.
“Actually we had a giveaway yesterday and we served over 300 people and we ran out of toys,” said Pastor Wilson.
You could call these guys Santa’s little helpers at least Wilson might. But for them, that’s the goal to give back to the community that’s given to them — no matter the music or the venue.
“And who would ever think a city bar or a venue will donate to a community center,” said Pastor Wilson.
“We’ve been really trying to change the narrative around hip hop events in the city,” said Arthur.
Organizers say they won’t wait until next Christmas to do something like this again. In the new year people, will have even more chances to give back to the community by coming to these events.
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Unique karaoke event takes over Buffalo, BPD officers take center stage
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — This Valentine’s Day a special event is coming to the Queen City.
R&B karaoke.
It’s actually a spin-off from a craze that’s been picking up steam in the Queen City for years now.
HIp-Hop Karaoke started back in 2015 when the co-founder Gabrielle Arthur saw it in London with her husband.
“I thought to myself, ‘We need to bring this back to Buffalo,” she said. “Buffalo needs something like this. There was nothing really ever in that hip-hop realm.”
She and her husband teamed up with Otis “OJ” Barker and created an event that had humble beginnings.
“In the beginning ,it was something cool to do, something to do, but it became the “thing” to do,” Barker tells 7 Eyewitness News.
From 150 people to over 1,000, the event now brings in sold-out crowds.
“It’s crazy, you know, a normal karaoke night at a bar… there might be 40 people there. You go up there and you sing, everybody’s drinking and stuff and you’re singing and stuff…this is totally different.”
Arthur says what makes this karaoke unique is that the songs are current and up-to-date because she created the tracks and the lyric slides from scratch.
“We actually make the track. A song will come out Monday, and the event is Saturday, and we’ll have that song.”
But, don’t be fooled. If you want to make an impression, you won’t get up on stage to read the words to the songs.
“You gotta really rock the crowd,” said Barker.
“And it’s hip-hop, so you kind of have to know the words - it’s hard to read the words to a rap song… the words are just to help you if you {forget} the words.”
After a few years of running a successful hip-hop karaoke, the organizers decided it was time to switch things up.
For the first time, R&B karaoke will be coming to Buffalo’s Tralf Music Hall this Valentine’s Day.
“This is your moment to get up there and show buffalo what you got.”
A slower pace, but it will still have the heart and soul of HHK.
“We just switched the tempo up pretty much but…we’re going to dance, we’re going to dance for sure, we’re going to dance all night… believe that.”
Dress to impress.
The event will offer a great date night experience for couples, and an exciting singles scene, as well.
And the excitement continues to build for a performance by Buffalo police officers Michael Norwood, Jr. and Armonde "Moe" Badger.