Gigantic Brewing hosts hip-hop invitational with beer, graffiti and DJs
Gigantic is turning its Southeast Portland taproom into a 10-hour hip-hop block party, with Kango painting a mural meant for a future beer can.
Gigantic Brewing is turning its original Southeast Portland taproom into a 10-hour hip-hop block party, with Kango painting a mural meant for a future beer can. The first-ever Elements of Hip Hop Invitational is set for Saturday, June 13, from noon to 10 p.m., and admission is $10.
The lineup reaches well beyond a typical brewery booking. Gigantic and Drenchtown are bringing together six emcees, three DJs, a live b-boy performance and live graffiti painting by Kango of the Lords Crew, all under one roof at 5224 SE 26th Ave. Food will come from Flavorsmyth BBQ and 808 Grinds, giving the day the feel of a neighborhood festival built around the tap list instead of a stage tucked into the corner.
The visual hook is as important as the music. Gigantic says the mural created during the invitational is intended to become artwork for a future beer can, which fits a brewery that has long leaned on artist-driven packaging. Its label program has always emphasized limited-time designs from different artists, so the can-art tie-in turns a live painting into part of the brand's production line instead of a one-off backdrop.
The event also fits the space itself. Gigantic opened its original Southeast Portland location on May 9, 2012, and the taproom is 21-plus only with valid ID, a setup that suits a ticketed night built around beer, music and street culture. The first 50 ticket buyers will receive a limited-edition print signed by the artist, with pickup required in person on the day of the event.
Kango gives the invitation some local weight. He was a b-boy before he turned to graffiti and has lived in Oregon since the 1990s, which makes the invitational feel rooted in Portland's own hip-hop history rather than imported for novelty. That matters in a softer beer market, where breweries are looking harder at events that draw people in for the experience and give them a reason to stay for the pint. Gigantic's bet is simple: make the brewery a place to gather, and the crowd can widen far beyond the usual taproom regulars.
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