In Da Club: For the Love of Hip Hop at the Blue Nile

Minneapolis might have produced the quintessential multiculti motto ("White, black, Puerto Rican/Everybody just a freakin'," from Prince's "Uptown"), but truly integrated partying remains a tad scarce in this town. At the Blue Nile last Saturday night, though, whites, blacks, lesbians, Africans, and a handful of young-but-old-school B-girls were breaking, doing the electric boogie, and milling about with great one-world style. The event was For the Love of Hip Hop, a benefit for the B-Girl Be Summit, coming April through June at Intermedia Arts. I showed up a bit after midnight, at which point DJ Lady Luca and DJ Mindcontrolwere spinning dusty joints by Big Daddy Kane, the 45 King, Slick Rick, Run-D.M.C., Biggie, and other past masters. Between listening to the not always so current Current and attending this event, I had some trouble living in the musical present this week. I had more fun at the Blue Nile. By definition, nostalgia is melancholy, but For the Love of Hip Hop didn't feel that way. It felt alive, like some of the folks in the house might use this history to write tomorrow.