“We are TR!”

In the wake of 19-year-old Tony Robinson’s death, who was killed in an officer-involved shooting in March, roughly 300 people gathered at the Barrymore Theatre Saturday night to mourn his loss and to celebrate the local community at the sixth annual Madison Hip-Hop Awards.

The night began with a music video by Madison artist Chaos Newmoney titled “Motivation,” both an ode to the late teen and a way to raise awareness for police brutality. The young rapper detailed the community’s overcoming of police oppression.

This video set the stage for the rest of the night.

Three cyphers by local rappers served as PSAs exposing the unjust judicial system, and the mixtape “No Justice No Peace” and song “What would Martin say?” won awards in their respective categories.

While at times seeming like a popularity contest, the awards gave local artists a real chance to get a message across to the modest audience.

Possibly one of the most moving moments was when Andrea Irwin, Robinson’s mother, spoke for a few minutes between awards. She told of the incredible support the hip-hop community offered her, and how even after such a tragic event, she was able to stay positive.

Later in the night, Roberto Riviera, recipient of the “Most Influential” award, told the story of a troubled youth who came to Madison for refuge and was eventually pulled out of the muck, now pursuing a doctorate degree and living a generally successful life.

He then revealed that it was his life story, and urged the community to pull together to help similar adolescents. The crowd erupted, simultaneously realizing and celebrating the potential that such a relatively small group of people possess.

Tony Robinson’s death: a portrait of a life ended, a life halted, a community united

Underwhelming performances by Trilogy, Amy Alida and Play Fair Cypher followed, bringing the previously elated crowd back down to earth. While clearly invested in their music and the Madison hip-hop scene, the local acts failed to strike a chord with the audience.

Near the end of the awards, the CEO of Broadjam Inc., a website serving independent musicians, delivered the award for Song of the Year. Before announcing the winner, he used the opportunity to urge the audience to vote, as changes can only happen if action is taken.

While still recognizing achievements in music by local artists, the sixth annual Madison Hip-Hop Awards mainly lent its time to raising awareness for problems in not only the city of Madison, but society as a whole.

Despite lackluster performances, the show served as a useful medium to motivate locals to bring change, both through music and political action.