What’s in a beat? Is it just the thump-thump-thump coming out of speakers? What about the everyday, almost mundane noise that surrounds us- the drip-drip-drip of a leaky faucet, the vrrooooom of a centrifuge or the pitter-patter of a student walking in an empty hallway?

With these questions in mind, F.O.K.U.S. presents “Shaping Sounds”, the first-ever beat battle at the University of Michigan to demonstrate the flexibility and cultural significance of sound. As an organization dedicated to art in all of its forms, F.O.K.U.S. is excited to venture down this ever-shifting alley that has a rich history steeped in collaboration and a DIY attitude. Beat battles began shortly after the birth of hip-hop, providing a Coliseum for DJ’s to scratch and spin against other DJ’s in hopes of winning local recognition. The idea was, if rappers can freestyle, why cant the DJ? Eventually, these battles evolved to involve beat-boxers and producers. The beauty of the battle is that anyone can enter, regardless of skill or fame. Some of hip-hop’s greats emerged onto the scene by starting at local battles like these.


While most hip-hop-centric events focus only on the sounds or the lyrics, Shaping Sounds focuses on the actual composition of the music and the context of the social climate to which it is delivered. Is commercial hip-hop only a product of consumer demand? And if so, does this say more about society as whole, regardless of demographic, than it does about hip-hop and the industry that produces it? These are the questions we will explore in addition to providing campus with an example of hip-hop that is inclusive, without bias, fun and free.