GRRRL PRTY Takes Over MCAD

Thursday afternoon while students were hard at work in studio classes, MCAD’s Main Gallery space was transformed into a live concert venue. All throughout the school anticipation grew as we heard GRRRL PRTY rehearse and soundcheck for the night's performance.

The evening started with a joint exhibition reception for the shows Minnesota Mean: The Students Take Measure, Stepping Back, Looking Forward: Honoring Feminist Vision, Joint Custody: A Show by Curly Jefferson, and Borderlines. Learn more about the reception and see photos from the evening.

Following the reception was something that was a first for MCAD—at least in this location and scale: a full-blown hip-hop concert in the middle of the Main Gallery that was free and open to the public.

Upon walking in at 8:00 p.m., the gallery was already packed as DJ Shannon Blowtorch warmed up the crowd and got it poppin’.

Exhibition reception and GRRRL PRTY concert video recap by student reporter Ryan Bloomingdale

What did you think about GRRRL PRTY coming to MCAD?

Mason Santos: GRRRL PRTY has been one of my favorite rap groups for a long time, so hearing that they were coming to MCAD was exciting. I've been updating myself with their music it was also nice to hear that they are being recognized by the institution as a powerful feminist group.

Skylar Storkamp: I thought it was awesome that they took the time to perform for us. MCAD values everything that they stand for, and as a woman, it's awesome to see GRRRL PRTY making a difference in communities around the United States.

Nora Kubiaczyk: GRRRL PRTY coming to MCAD was honestly just such an awesome opportunity. I don't know many other people that could gloat that they got to see a free, incredible, feminist hip-hop show through their college.

What was your favorite part of the show?

Mason: I really loved when they rapped over the beats that Shannon Blowtorch gave them and how they included the crowd in a dance party.

Skylar: Hard to say, the whole show was awesome, but dancing at the end was a good time.

Nora: The whole GRRRL PRTY crew is so talented. I loved the improv portion when they took turns going off to pop hits. Also, how could you not love the dance party afterwards? Incredible.

Part-way through the performance, GRRRL PRTY took some time to acknowledge Black Lives Matter by saying “Black lives matter, all lives matter” and “This is not anti-cop, this is pro-peace.”

I thought it was really great of GRRRL PRTY to use the performance as an outlet to speak about important issues in our community.

What did you get out of the show?

Mason: For me the majority of the show was just another great GRRRL PRTY experience. At the last minute I also got to dance on stage with the group, which felt amazing and insane at the same time.

Skylar: I enjoy their take on rapping. It's usually dominated by men, speaking of women, and women’s bodies in a sexual or provocative way with little-to-no respect. They take a woman’s stance, which changes everything. When I listen to them I feel this sense of power, passion, and strength. Like they are not just rapping for themselves, but for their grandmothers, for their mothers, for their future daughters, for their sisters. Women standing up for other women is huge and needs to become more common in our society.

Nora: This show lit such a deep, fiery passion for grrl pwr in my heart. I've been listening to their albums nonstop.

Had you heard about GRRRL PRTY prior to the concert?

Mason: Definitely. I've been a fan for a while now; I've been listening to them for about two years. I actually went to their concert at First Avenue during the beginning of the fall semester this year. I feel like it's starting to turn into a tradition!

Skylar: Yes, Quinn Wilson and I had classes together at MCAD and she is a member of GRRRL PRTY.

Nora: Yeah! I'd heard some of their songs and definitely jammed out, but this concert definitely made me better acquainted and even more in love.

What’s your favorite GRRRL PRTY song (if you have one)?

Mason: I love all their songs, but "Wegula" would have to be my favorite since it's the first song I heard by them. I was at Rock the Garden and they performed it live as part of Lizzo's act. It's sort of a memento of that day for me.

Skylar: I don’t think I could pick a fav. The whole set is amazing.

Nora: "Clank Clank!"

Overall if I had one word to describe the GRRRL PRTY performance I would say “lit.” The entire crowd was dancing and chanting along and afterwards the crew had MCAD’s best dancers take the stage.

If those in the crowd hadn’t heard of GRRRL PRTY before Thursday’s show I am willing to bet that they’ll be taking a closer look after such a good show. It was really great to see everyone having a good time just as the first week of classes was winding down.

Huge thanks to MCAD for making this all possible and an even bigger one to GRRRL PRTY for showing MCAD some love!