Under Fest 10 and Spitfire Contest 2024 - Recap

As we said in the previous article, small and “provincial” realities in Italy (and not only) are the true lifeblood of our beloved Culture. We therefore speak with pleasure of one of those realities that after 10 editions and hundreds of guests is no longer so small, indeed, in our modest opinion Under Fest confirms itself as the fattest underground Rap festival in Italy. Every year our old friends Moder, Federica, Max and the fantastic organizational team offer us a glimpse of what happens in the shadow of the mainstream, involving the leading names of the Italian scene, international guests together with the new deserving talents thanks to the Under Battle aimed at young MC's. It is therefore not surprising that it was a bomb of a week. Yes, the Under is not One Shot, this year from Tuesday to Sunday live, DJ set, freestyle battle, writing, conferences and the Spitfire Contest (Here is the recap of the 2019 edition). Ravenna has been forcefully put on the map thanks to the efforts and work that for years has seen the guys from Lato Oscuro della Costa APS offer Cisim and the Ravenna area workshops, concerts, theater, screenings and much more, bringing positive energy and alternatives for young people in a place, Ravenna precisely, where historically there is a great need for it. The Under Fest is just the tip of the iceberg of their work, that event that everyone waits for to spend at least an entire weekend of good vibes. And what better location to celebrate the tenth edition of the beach? Thanks to the support of the Peter Pan beach in Marina di Ravenna last week between a dip and a drink we enjoyed (among others) the live performances of K-Maiuscola, Kaos and Dj Craim with the Fastidio tour (immense as always, we still have goosebumps), Kyodo and Brain who brought back the pieces of Fuoco negli Occhi to the stage, Egreen who broke through both for the lyrics, for the stage presence (a machine) and for the speeches. He also pointed out the importance of small realities that often have a hunger and a passion far superior to the big glossy centers where behind many special effects hides nothing. Then Phedra (Big up!), Jhonny Roy, Ares Adami (nothing but love), Triflusso, Zampa, Sesto Carnera and many others. We are only sorry we couldn't go to the first night where Glory Hole Rec performed, but we saw and heard the stories and that was also an epic night. Last but not least, the live of Onyx directly from NYC together with Dj Fastcut. Unfortunately Sticky Fingaz was stuck at the airport with a cancelled flight, but Fredro Starr literally made it for two in a live show that should be studied in school when talking about Mcing. To say that he was a blast is an understatement (soon we will also upload the excerpts of his live with support Max Mbassado and of the Fastidio tour, you'll see). We jumped on the great classics like Slam and Throw Ya Gunz while personally listening to Last Dayz, perhaps my favorite piece by Onyx, was incredible. Very powerful. Also very powerful was Dj Fastcut who didn't miss a beat, always on point and stylish. It's also a shame that we couldn't follow the conferences, always interesting and stimulating for an analysis of the state of the art. Oh, as if that wasn't enough, all this stuff was free to enter. I repeat: ALL FREE. I know that words don't fully convey the efforts to create such a free event, but as organizers with Romagna in Fiore of the free jam La Starpegna, we know what it means and how much effort is behind it. Well done. 

So happily devastated by three days of concerts, we arrive at Sunday with the eleventh edition of the Spitfire Contest. For those who don't know, Alessio Spitfire Lunardini was a child and a young promise of national Breaking (we met him when at just 10 years old he participated and won the Starpegna 2012 kids contest against opponents much older than him, in the gallery you can see him happy at the awards ceremony) whose life was cut short in May 2014 when, at just 12 years old, he was hit by a car while riding his bike to school. A story of those that we would never have wanted to hear, and that instead, thanks to his recklessness and speed while driving, we hear all too often. Since then, his parents Stefano and Viera, with the support of Nasty Den, have organized this contest every year in his memory. Not only Breaking but also Hip Hop and street dance in the broadest sense. It is always a pleasure to support his memory, and every year there is no shortage of teary eyes. The competition obviously takes a back seat, but this year too the judges Snap, Sly and Shorty had their work cut out for them judging the dancers who performed to the music selected by the legendary Dj Nersone and Dj Ake. DJs are the backbone of the Culture, as Fredro Starr rightly reminded us. Host the tireless Ares Adami. In the end, B-Boy Ibra won in Breaking, Davide Schioppa in Hip Hop and the City of Padua in Rep Your City. Oh, speaking of tireless, a huge shout out to Dj Dima who played practically a week straight between live, contest and afterparty. True Warrior! Last but not least, the freestyle contest that saw Hydra win in the final against Morbo. 

We are already looking forward to the next edition, who knows what bombs they will pull out. Needless to say, you can't miss it. Then don't complain that there aren't any heavy stuff around if you don't support them when they are. 

So we leave you with our humble video recap, the beautiful photos by Nicola Baldazzi and one last, small reflection: there is still a lot of talk about how culture is often told partially or "badly", if you'll pardon the term, and how the mainstream distorts the public's perception towards a false image that has very little to do with culture. This obviously not only in music and not only in Hip Hop culture. But let's start from a fact: culture is not an abstract concept, culture is not something that came from nowhere. Culture is made by people, and those people are all of us. We are our culture, we who practice it and we who spread it in our own small way. And this is where we return to the discussion of small realities, personal paths and how our actions can influence those around us. Because it is not just one mega artist or one mega festival that keeps a culture alive and carries forward. It is us and our passion, each with their own paths and each with their own stories that like many small drops of water we meet, we cross paths and we merge until we form together that vast sea of knowledge and attitude that quenches our souls and our brains. Our culture. So guys, without waiting for someone to do it for us, let's put aside the ego and the competition for a moment and let's all start supporting those people, those artists and those situations that pushes in the right way. If you find someone or something that rocks, give them the right credits, make them feel your love, whether in person or by message, make them feel your presence and your support even and especially when you get nothing in return. It doesn't take much for you, but for the person who is recognized, their commitment and talent can make the difference between having the drive to continue in the right direction or quitting because you can't get out of the shadows even if you are aware of being powerful. Show some M**F** Love as they would say in NY. Talk to everyone about the fact that that guy you saw at the neighborhood jam is rocking, that that demo or that song is rocking, go to jams and block parties even if you are not among the guests, put your ego aside and support and buy from independent realities, whether they are demos, art prints, clothes or anything that carries forward the right spirit. Where newspapers and websites for various (and often well-founded) reasons don't reach, that's where we need to be. To put it simply: if someone is a blast and we all know it, we have to be humble and give them the right credit, support them by talking to everyone and sooner or later that person will be able to make the leap and get where they deserve to be. Guaranteed. That this process requires years and years, sometimes decades of apprenticeship, sacrifices and renunciations is another matter, and that this society makes “success” seem like something quick and within everyone’s reach deserves a separate discussion. It’s not up to us but up to the artist on duty to understand where they want to get to and whether to do it with the right attitude. We can be their trampoline or their quicksand. Never forget the importance of personal choices. If we all change our world, everyone’s world changes. Hip Hop is proof of this. It’s up to all of us to choose whether to set the right example and understand that we never arrive, we always have to learn with humility or continue to be selfish and self-referential.
Show some Love B-Boys & B-Girls. 

One Love 
See y’all in the street.