Grand Rapids hip-hop artist Rick Chyme unveils his ArtPrize entry on Saturday, with plans to freestyle rap throughout the city in hopes of setting a new world record for hip-hop endurance … and inclusiveness.
Lighting the Fire for Record-Setting Rap Endurance: Grand Rapids’ Rick Chyme (Photo/John Boros)
In a bid to freestyle rap for 17 hours straight, Grand Rapids hip-hop artist Rick Chyme may have devised the most inclusive ArtPrize entry yet.
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With instrumentalists joining him and videographers documenting his travels, Chyme plans to start rapping on the streets and at various locations around Grand Rapids on Saturday morning and doesn’t plan to stop until after midnight, when he’ll be joined by a bevy of musicians on stage at The Pyramid Scheme.
Along the way, Chyme will incorporate into his improvised raps various words, phrases, objects, even tweeted subject matter and videos supplied by ArtPrize visitors and passersby – as well as fans collaborating via the Internet – to bolster his “The Art of Freestyle” ArtPrize entry.
And when it’s all said and done, Chyme hopes to hold the new world record for the longest freestyle rap in history.
“It is collaborative and I hope people react to it and that there’s energy exchanged and people are inspired by it,” says Chyme, whose brand new studio album, “5iveit,” is a gleaming example of musical collaboration with other West Michigan artists. “On Saturday, I’ll be collaborating with your grandmother. The people I’ll be coming in contact with is what I’m most excited about and what their reaction is to it.”
A WORLD RECORD BID AND A TOUR OF THE TOWN
The well-known Grand Rapids rapper – and former West Michigan University basketball player – was motivated, in part, by others who’ve set previous Guinness Book of World Records’ marks for rapping endurance. According to the Guiness website, the current record is held by Austin Antoine who rapped for 16 hours, 31 minutes and 22 seconds on May 4, 2013, at the California Institute of the Arts.
Rick Chyme (Photo/Justin Meredith)
“My athletic history is just kind of ingrained in me,” concedes Chyme, “so when I saw the competition …”
Chyme will begin his rapping endeavor at 8 a.m. Saturday at John Hartman Photography, 105 S. Division Ave., and journey through Grand Rapids, moving to Rosa Parks Circle after 9 a.m., street busking with Punksuhate at 11:30 a.m., appearing on WYCE-FM (88.1) and WSNX-FM (104.5) after 12:20 p.m., roaming to Vertigo Music on S. Division Avenue at 3 p.m. (where he’ll meet up with DJ SuperDre) and to Mexicains San Frontieres across the street at 5 p.m., swinging over to Eastown at 7 p.m., The B.O.B. parking lot at 9 p.m., The Stache at The Intersection at 11 p.m. and finally to The Pyramid Scheme by midnight, where 10 or more musicians will likely join him on stage.
Along the way, he’ll be joined by other Grand Rapids DJs and musicians, including Nixon, Michael Sullivan, Sir Manley, Dean Martian, drummers from Afro Zuma, and frankly, many folks he doesn’t even know.
‘THE BEST PART IS THE UNKNOWN’
“It’s growing daily,” Chyme says of those interested in participating as word spreads about the unusual project. “The best part is the unknown portion of it. The best part about freestyle, it’s just reacting to what’s happening. There is no wrong. The success will be determined by people who I’ll cross paths with. It could be crazy.
Rick Chyme (Photo/Jon Curtis)
Chyme encourages folks to come up with words or bring objects “to try to stump me and make it entertaining.” Not only will videographers accompany him to stream the marathon rap on his website and collect footage for a future film or documentary, clipboards and a marker board will be used to gather words from visitors and passersby to inspire the raps.
As Chyme puts it: “I’m most excited about the power that exists in all of the people who participate in the contest as spectators and voters. … My goal is to collaborate with those who would normally be strictly observing while showing the art of poetry, improvisation and hip-hop music in general.”
Get more information at the ArtPrize website and at Chyme’s website, where the freestyle venture (55311) will be streamed. Folks can follow Chyme on Twitter @rickchyme and participate by using the #17hourfreestylesept21 and #rickchyme hashtags. And read more about Chyme in his recent Musicians’ Soundboard column at Local Spins.
Perhaps even more impressively, the day after Chyme completes his marathon of words, he plans to stay silent for 17 hours straight, which could actually prove tougher than rapping that long. “That could be hard for me,” he concedes. “I ramble a lot.”
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music
