I usually do not write about Olympia hip-hop. I like to let my man Nick Leonard cover Oly. That said, I can't let Hip-Hop 4 the Homeless go by without giving it some props. This is by far my favorite Olympia hip-hop event of the year. The whole scene comes together for one purpose, and that is to help Olympia's homeless population. It is a weekend long extravaganza of music, poetry and social work. Olympia's homeless population is invited to come get clothes, toiletries, haircuts, food and other social services. While at the event, they are given one of the best hip-hop shows in Washington state.  This year you can catch Afrok and The Movement, Xperience, Motamouth Jones, Free Ya Mind, 206-Zulu, Heretic and others, plus the 25360 Awards Saturday, Jan. 26 at the Olympia Ballroom.

This is the 11th annual HH4H. I have been lucky and blessed to be a part of a handful of them. It is a rare sight to see a whole hip-hop community coming together to support and help homeless people and families. The event is filled with a love and appreciation that is lacking in other events. B-boys and girls, hip-hop heads, community activists, and homeless people all getting down together in one big room. It is awesome.

DJ Luvva J is the motion behind the movement. He definitely deserves some respect for his dedication and commitment to the cause.

Hip-Hop 4 the Homeless is more special than a normal benefit show, where fans and artists come together and blindly support a cause. Typically, after artists perform, the money is sent off to a faraway destination that has been hit by a tornado or hurricane. At HH4H, you have a chance to make an actual impact on a person who needs help right then and there. You can meet, connect, and build with people who are in need.

OLYMPIA BALLROOM, HIP-HOP 4 THE HOMELESS, SATURDAY, JAN. 26, 6 P.M., $5, 116 LEGION WAY, OLYMPIA