ALLENTOWN, Pa. — As a DJ spun a mix of hip-hop from the likes of Busta Rhymes, Wu-Tang Clan and Redman, those walking by Art Haus peeked through the windows, curious about the beats.
Inside the gallery, the sounds matched an enthusiastic crowd of art aficionados, who snapped selfies with local star, rapper Red Mcfly.
On Juneteenth, Mcfly, an Allentown-based producer who has recorded beats for French Montana, Benny the Butcher, Kanye West and OT The Real, presented his latest project, an art exhibition, "Hip Hop on the Wall."
The exhibition runs through July 11 at Art Haus, 645 Hamilton St.
It is a collaboration with Pas Simpson, owner of Big Happy Consultants, and in partnership with the Lehigh Valley Arts & Cultural Alliance and CADCA.
Issac Pelayo, local talent
The collection highlights more than 25 pieces by internationally recognized artists such as Issac Pelayo and UnCasso of Uncutt Art, and local creatives Femi J. Johnson, Caddy Mik, and Max Meano.
Also on loan: a rare drawing by the late Andy Warhol and a colorful abstract by German painter Peter Keil.
“Hip Hop on the Wall” combines Mcfly's fondness of art with his lyrical genius.
A booklet, for $50, accompanies the exhibition, and lets users scan a QR code that brings them to Mcfly's newest album, "No Tears Left Behind."
The project is filled with words that describe Mcfly's struggles in life, and how he triumphed over those obstacles.
"My brother is an artist as well, and he did a lot of the canvases that I have in my house," Mcfly said.
"One of the pieces is of an eye with a tear coming down, and that inspired me to make that album."
Part of the reason Simpson and McFly teamed up for the exhibition was not only to showcase hip-hop culture, but to inspire youth and others to become art collectors.
"I like the fact that I can probably show things to people that might not necessarily be interested in yet, and it might come to something like this, and think, 'I want to start getting into art," he said.
"It doesn't have to be something that costs $10,000 or $20,000. You can still have a nice piece that's not expensive. It could just be a brick of that.
"Some of the artists here are just getting started, but they have talent."
Among those are works by Caddy Mike, a local muralist who is selling his portraits of Busta Rhymes for $300, Benny the Butcher for $250 and Redman for $160.
Breakdancing on cardboard
There are higher-priced artworks, as well.
Two of those, by abstract artist Remi J. Johnson, are titled "Rite of Passages," for $4,400, and "Oshun River Kiss," for $3,000.
Johnson's "Malcom," inspired by Malcom X, also is part of the exhibit, on loan.
Of hip-hop, Johnson defines it as an integral part of Black history.
"For me, it's part of my everyday life because I see it every day, so it influences me," Johnson said.
"I'm a kid of the '70s, but I remember in the early stages of hip-hop when my kids were break dancing on cardboard."
His pieces, like the culture of hip-hop, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023, also reflect the show’s theme.
"I chose those three pieces because of history, because of the spirit, which penetrates all generations."Artist Remi J. Johnson
"I chose those three pieces because of history, because of the spirit, which penetrates all generations," Johnson said.
"'Rite of Passages' I [created] 25 years ago after I went through my rite of passage, through a Nigerian tradition.
"That particular piece [brings] scars of the past to the present and what we do for our healing and our strength."
Johnson's "Oshun River Kiss" is named after the goddess of love, fertility and freshwater.
"Oshun is the goddess of the ocean, but she's also a warrior," he said. "She'll do anything to protect her children. She is a nourisher."
"So that's the spiritual and female energy I wanted to add to the show."
"As much as we love hip-hop, a lot of it is a male-oriented industry, I wanted to bring that strong female energy to balance things out."
Pelayo, a Los Angeles-based artist and a rising star in the art world, is selling three of his untitled pieces for $3,000 each.
Having Pelayo, who recently sold his contemporary spin of Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper" to rapper Westside Gunn for $100,000, part of the exhibition, was a game-changer for Mcfly.
"I reached out to him, not thinking [Issac] would even contact me, but he was happy to do it," Mcfly said.
"That was big for me."
Artist walk, closing party
Leading up to the closing of the "Hip Hip on the Wall" there will be several interactive art events, including a "Join in the Key of Freedom" party at 7 p.m. Saturday at 620 Hamilton St.
Also, a Content Crusade, for artists and content creators starting at ArtHaus and ending at the Moxy Hotel (949 Hamilton St.) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 28.
And a Tribute/Closing Party with Red Mcfly, also at the Moxy Hotel on July 11.
For more information, visit the exhibition's website.
