Last summer local rapper Diezel P and Pier Pool Manager Evan Lilly organized a hip hop lyric contest for teens at the St. Johns area pool. The goal was to give aspiring artists a chance to showcase their skills in a low key environment and illustrate the rap music can be both creative and positive in its tone and language. The winners would get to record a track onto a CD and be in Diezel P’s upcoming music video.

“We put it together kind of last minute”, says Diezel. “I was surprised to see how many kids were interested in participating.”

The success of last summer’s contest inspired the two to organize an even bigger event this year, with bigger prizes. Diezel P and Portland Parks & Recreation's Aquatics staff introduced the second annual H2Flow Show at Pier Pool on August 20.  With help from many local businesses in St. Johns, they were able to get an assortment of prizes ranging from gift certificates to an mp3 player. The grand prize was a spot in Po Hop, a 4-day hip hop festival in downtown Portland.

Close to 100 people came to Pier Pool see the young talent compete on August 20. Last year’s winner, Ryan B., came up from Oregon City to participate in the event again. He went first and showed the other kids why he won it a year earlier. Pooter, a Pier Pool regular, shook off some nerves and rocked a two-minute song in front off dozens of his friends cheering him on.

“It was a lot of fun,” comments Pooter. “I was kinda nervous at first, but once I got going it was easy. I’d do it again for sure.”

Arion B. took the title this year, but as long as these young aspiring artists continue to express themselves positively through Hip-Hop, than they will all remain winners!

But Pooter will get another chance to take the title of H2Flow Show Champ as Evan and Diezel are already in the works of planning next year’s event.

Read more about the event at What’s Happening PDX, a non-profit online networking blogazine for the Portland urban community. Founded by Rah-Miel Mitchell, one of the contest judges, What’s Happening PDX provides an  opportunity for city youth to network and read about community events online.

Submitted by: Phil Lewis, District Aquatics Coordinator