As the birthplace of Motown, and some even say techno, Detroit has always played a huge part in the music industry. While the city has seen its up and downs through the years, the music has always stayed with them. From Stevie Wonder to the White Stripes, Detroit has had its share of famous musicians. A place of innovation and creativity, Detroit has given us some very famous artists, and with that, some amazing rappers and hip-hop artists — J Dilla, Aaliyah, and so many others. Although the ‘90s — which many view as the “golden age” of rap and hip-hop in Detroit — have gone, the legacy of music and rap continues. From Eminem to Big Sean, Motor City continues to pour out creative individuals who love music just as much as the many who came before them.

Detroit is less than an hour away from Ann Arbor. While the distance is fairly short in practice, Athena Agassi, a junior at Skyline High School, felt that many Ann Arbor teens weren’t taking advantage of the hip-hop scenes only a short drives away in Detroit and Ypsilanti. In cooperation with the B-Side and Neutral Zone, Agassi has planned her own show— “Athena’s Mix of R&B and Hip-Hop” —to try to show Ann Arbor teens the talent of up and coming rappers and hip-hop artists in the area.

“I want teens to really know that there's a hip-hop scene for them to go watch, and for them to go learn about,” said Agassi. “I think it’s crazy they have so much talent, and I think it’s great for them to come and perform.”

With a set list including artists from Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Detroit, the event features eight up and coming artists ranging from solo acts, to brother and sister duos, to Neutral Zone alumni such as K.o.K. and Schematic. The event, which will be hosted at the B-Side on Dec. 16th, is a showcase of talent that sometimes gets overlooked by Ann Arbor teens.

“A lot of teenagers don’t want to go out and watch hip-hop, they just want to party,” said Agassi. While the B-Side has seen huge crowds in the past for its infamous “Get Low” parties and popular acoustic acts, Agassi has found it difficult to find people who solely attend the events for the purpose of listening to the music, but just as you can dance to a DJ, you can certainly dance to live hip-hop music, with an even unique experience.

“You can dance to hip-hop and it’s live music, which is even better, not just a DJ who is playing the whole time,” said Agassi. “You can watch actual people perform and dance to it, just as you do at Get Low parties, and appreciate people [the artists].”