Once again, the hip-hop industry descended on N.C. Central University for the annual Hip-Hop Summit, a part of NCCU’s recently launched Hip-Hop Initiative.

This year’s summit included panelists from MTV, Sony, Source Magazine, Sirius Satellite Radio and many more.

Students were given the opportunity to have an open discussion with the industry’s top representatives.

They were also able to participate in events such as a film festival, a talent show, DJ and Producer competitions, and even an old-school hip-hop concert.

The summit began Feb. 9 with an opening session held at the B.N. Duke Auditorium.

Students attended several sessions, including Fashion is my Passion, with panelist Tara Payne, a designer for Abercrombie & Fitch; Jasmin Rijken, director of Marketing and Public Relations for Miskeen Clothing and Osa Asemota, founder of The Gift Agency.

Logo designed by NCCU alumnus Tobias Rose. (Photo: Logo Courtesy Kompleks Creative, Inc.)

Michael “Blue” Williams, founder of Family Tree Entertain-ment, was the keynote speaker that afternoon.

Students were able to meet and greet the panelists and executive staff for networking opportunities.

Brittany Benson, mass communications senior and host of the campus television program “On the Yard,” shared her experience.

“I definitely benefited from meeting different people from the industry,” Benson said.

“They embraced me and ... my hard work.” She said that attending the summit helped her to get her foot in the door, but she knew she was going to have to continue to work hard in order to “get to the next level.”

MC Lyte partied with the crowd Sat. night during the hip-hop legends concert in the B.N. Duke Auditorium. (Photo: Bryson Pope/Echo Staff Photographer)

The last day of the summit began early Saturday morning at the Mary M. Townes Science Complex with a hip-hop workshop for teachers.

At 8 p.m, the Hip-Hop Summit Concert featured legendary old-school artists MC Lyte, Doug E. Fresh and Dana Dane.

The last session, Hip Hop and the Connection of Music to the African Diaspora, sparked many questions from the audience.

Nicole Martin, panelist and senior editor of TRIBES magazine, believes that “Hip Hop can be a medium to educate our youth about Africa.”

Mike E, spoken-word recording artist and guest panelist, said, “I believe the summit here at NCCU is going to grow and expand beyond the campus — it is focused on giving people substance and belief.”

The summit was concluded by Kawachi Clemmons, coordinator of NCCU’s music industry program.

Sherise Malachi, NCCU alumna and Radio Promotions Coordinator at Columbia Records, brought the summit to campus.

Next year, she plans to get surrounding colleges involved and have more hands-on workshops. Malachi said that the event could benefit everyone.

The Hip-Hop summit is part of NCCU’s Hip-Hop Initiative, created to offer a scholarly approach to the genre.

“The position of Hip-Hop in academia has grown in recent years,” said Chancellor James H. Ammons on the Hip-Hop Initiative website.

“Undeniably, hip-hop is one of the strongest tools by which we can reach a segment of our youth and demonstrate the ideals stated in our mission.”