A lively hip-hop celebration is a great place to start if you want to get people’s attention.
On Oct. 20, 1Hood Power — an advocacy arm of the Pittsburgh nonprofit 1Hood Media — presented the Power Up Fest at Kelly Strayhorn Theater. The afternoon of live performances and community engagement around voting in southwestern Pennsylvania showcased hip-hop heavyweights and local talent. Common, Lupe Fiasco, Redman, and Method Man set the stage ablaze with their contagious energy and crowd favorites. One lucky, vocally talented woman from the audience was chosen to do a duet with Common on stage.
The concert kicked off with performances by 1Hood performers Jasiri X, Saíd, Treble NLS, NLS Ron, and Man-E. Later, District 9 councilmember Khari Mosley, County Executive Sara Innamorato, Pa. Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes ( D-Allegheny County), and Pittsburgh’s first Black Mayor, Ed Gainey, took the stage to stress the importance of everyone exercising their right to vote. Actor Joe Morton, aka Papa Pope, whose decades-spanning career includes a long list of movie and TV credits, also spoke.
After an informal poll taken by Method Man, it became clear that the audience was made up of a good mix of Gen X to Gen Z. With a lot of Gen Z coming of age this year to vote, this counts as a critical demographic. If you are paying attention to any campaign coverage, you will notice that Pennsylvania is a hot spot for presidential campaign visits.
According to NPR, Pennsylvanians voted for the winner of every presidential election since former President Barack Obama won in 2008. With so much at stake in this 2024 election, 1Hood works to create space to educate voters, amplify local campaigns, and bring community members together.
Keeping true to its mission of fostering bold and innovative artistry with a global perspective, the intimacy of the Kelly Strayhorn Theater was a perfect venue for the fellowship and outpouring of Black joy. During these times of uncertainty and political unrest, we all needed a chance to help reset our souls while combining our efforts to make a change.
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Method Man and Redman performed at Power Up Fest at Kelly Strayhorn Theater on Oct. 20, 2024. -
Redman performed at Power Up Fest at Kelly Strayhorn Theater on Oct. 20, 2024. -
Said performed at Power Up Fest at Kelly Strayhorn Theater on Oct. 20, 2024. -
1Hood Power Presents: Power Up Fest is an annual event featuring local and nationally-acclaimed hip hop talent. This year, the event was held at Kelly Strayhorn Theater on Oct. 20, 2024. -
Lupe Fiasco performed at Power Up Fest at Kelly Strayhorn Theater on Oct. 20, 2024. -
Lupe Fiasco performed at Power Up Fest at Kelly Strayhorn Theater on Oct. 20, 2024. -
Method Man danced at Power Up Fest at Kelly Strayhorn Theater on Oct. 20, 2024. -
MAN-E performed at Power Up Fest at Kelly Strayhorn Theater on Oct. 20, 2024. -
Mayor Ed Gainey enjoyed the show at Power Up Fest at Kelly Strayhorn Theater on Oct. 20, 2024. -
Method Man performed at Power Up Fest at Kelly Strayhorn Theater on Oct. 20, 2024. -
Method Man performed at Power Up Fest at Kelly Strayhorn Theater on Oct. 20, 2024. -
Method Man performed at Power Up Fest at Kelly Strayhorn Theater on Oct. 20, 2024. -
Common performing at Power Up Fest at Kelly Strayhorn Theater on Oct. 20, 2024. -
Common performed at Power Up Fest at Kelly Strayhorn Theater on Oct. 20, 2024. -
Common performed at Power Up Fest at Kelly Strayhorn Theater on Oct. 20, 2024. -
Common performed with an audience member at Power Up Fest. -
The crowd at Power Up Fest at Kelly Strayhorn Theater. -
A Kamala Harris birthday cake at Power Up Fest on Oct. 20, 2024. -
Power Up Fest at Kelly Strayhorn Theater. -
Pa. Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes at Power Up Fest on Oct. 20. 2024. -
An audience member was invited to sing at Power Up Fest on Oct. 20. 2024. -
Common with an audience member at Power Up Fest on Oct. 20. 2024. -
Common with an audience member at Power Up Fest on Oct. 20. 2024. -
Common performed at Power Up Fest on Oct. 20. 2024.
