Forty years in the game: African American Heritage Cultural Celebration honors rap pioneer MC Chill
By Elizabeth Hille
The African American Heritage & Cultural Celebration (AAHCC) honors the legacy of Black excellence in Northeast Ohio. The free event this weekend at the Cleveland History Center has plenty of live music, a cultural marketplace, food vendors, kid-friendly activities, historical exhibits, hip-hop panel discussions, poetry slams, and much more.
Cleveland History Center director Angie Lowri says that elevating the stories of Black history is a priority for WRHS.
History of the AAHCC
In 1992, civic activist Robert L. Render III had the idea to organize a heritage celebration highlighting African American Culture. Render was working at WRHS at the time, but now serves as president of RLRIII & Associates, a cultural preservation group in Cleveland.
Prior to this year's revival, the AAHCC ran every year from 1992 to 2002. In those 10 years, the annual celebration was incredibly popular, with more than 10,000 people attending the event by 2002.
A year ago, Cleveland rap artist Kevin “MC Chill” Heard received a call from Render—saying he wanted to bring back the AAHCC to honor the 40th anniversary of Heard’s achievements. So, the WRHS and RLRIII & Associates teamed up to make the event a reality.
Nearly 25 years later, WRHS remains the perfect location in University Circle for the cultural celebration. Since 1970, the African American Archives at the historical society have shared the many ways African Americans have shaped Cleveland throughout history.
In 2024, WRHS established a permanent gallery dedicated to sharing stories from Black history and the organization now has a full-time position dedicated to African American history initiatives.
“The revival of this [cultural celebration] is another next step at making these collections and these stories available to the broader community,” says Lowrie.
From 1992 until 2002, Robert L. Render organized and managed the African American Heritage Cultural Celebration as a vehicle to preserve, promote and celebrate the rich history, arts and contributions of African Americans in Northeast Ohio.
"With the revival of the AAHCC, we’re reintroducing at least two generations to the Historical Society, and the depth, breadth, scope and accomplishments of African Americans in Northeast Ohio,” says Render.
Schedule of events
On Friday, August 21 there is a screening of “216: Legends of the Land,” which is a four-part Tubi documentary focusing on hip-hop's beginnings in Cleveland. After playing the third episode of the “Legends” documentary, a VIP meet and greet will give guests the opportunity to connect with Heard and other artists.
At the same time, there will be a panel discussion for hip-hop artists and community partners to discuss the hip-hop movement in Cleveland and Heard’s legacy. The panel is moderated by a historian from the National Hip Hop Museum in Washington, D.C.
Heard says that there will be people on the panel from Cleveland and New York who are unique to his journey as a hip-hop artist.
The all-day cultural festival kicks off at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 22 with historical exhibits, a genealogy workshop, poetry slam, and cultural marketplace. For younger audiences, there is a children's village and unlimited rides on Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel.
Main stage entertainment includes:
The AAHCC is free and open to everyone, but advanced registration is required for Saturday. Tickets and event details can be found on CLEtix.com.
Cleveland’s African American Heritage & Cultural Celebration (AAHCC) returns this weekend after nearly 25 years, bringing music, history and culture to Western Reserve Historical Society’s Cleveland History Center on Friday, Aug. 21 and Saturday, Aug. 22.
This year also marks the 40th anniversary of hip-hop pioneer Kevin “MC Chill” Heard becoming the first Cleveland solo act to sign a record deal with a national label, Fever Records.
Cleveland History Center officials recently announced the return of AAHCC, along with activities that celebrate Heard’s musical achievements.
Roxanna Shante at Academy Tavern.Bright spots
Highlights of Heard’s career at the History Center will include a screening of the documentary 216: Legends of the Land, directed by Jay Glover (also available on Tubi).
There will be a VIP meet-and-greet panel discussion that will be moderated by hip-hop historian Jay Quan and feature Roxanne Shanté—the first solo female rapper to receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025.
Prior to his solo career, Heard was a member of the Cleveland rap group The Bomb Squad, which also featured DJ Cochise, DJ Kid Finesse, DJ Johnny O, Wayne G, and Mellow Ice T.
Heard’s rise to rap prominence was largely due to a chance encounter with a young rap phenom: Roxanne Shante. He was invited to accompany a friend to pick up Shante from Cleveland Hopkins Airport.
The two hit it off, and Shante was instrumental in getting Heard in front of the right people at Fever Records. Their lasting friendship remains just as strong today.
“Hip-hop has given me the chance to celebrate the connection of two things that have created most of my adult life: Hip hop and journalism,” says Heard. “But the marriage of hip-hop and journalism has given me the opportunity to teach.
“And none of this would have happened for me without that memorable day 40 years ago,” Heard adds, referring to the airport run.
Heard currently teaches course on hip-hop and journalism as part of Case Western Reserve University’s National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) and is a former general manager/reporter for the Call & Post newspaper.
AAHCC festivities will blend rich local history with top-notch entertainment. MC Chill will give a 40th anniversary performance—celebrating four decades of musical excellence and his historic signing to Fever Records.
A Cleveland hip-hop pioneer
The rich history of hip-hop plays a huge role in the tale of Kevin “MC Chill” Heard.
MC Chill memorabilia.In the 1970s, hip-hop was created by Black and Latino communities in the South Bronx of New York City. Heard says the humble beginnings of hip-hop were defined by a generation looking to express itself.
“No one probably knew that what began in the mid to late 70s would emerge as a global phenomenon,” notes Heard. “The African American story is best told by its own people. Hip-hop culture through music, dance, and art has found a place to express itself within the Black community.”
Heard reminisces on this period in hid life, noting that growing up in the Lee-Harvard area as a Black child was amazing. He says he remembers seeing Black businesses sprout up in his community—paving a path for Black businessmen and entrepreneurs.
With inspiration at every corner, it was easy for Heard to fall in love with the new art of hip-hop.
“For me to grow up in Cleveland at the time when I'm first hearing hip-hop music so far away from its New York City roots, I gravitated towards it,” he recalls.
Throughout college, Heard met a lot of people from New York City who told him stories about the hip-hop culture they grew up in. Thanks to inspirations and collaborations, MC Chill was born.
“When you're doing it, you don't look at yourself as a pioneer, you look at yourself more as a participant,” he says. “and you don't really think about the historical footprint that you're making.”s
Now, 40 years later, Heard’s historical impact is enough to bring back an entire cultural celebration.
“As a native Clevelander, I’m deeply honored to be recognized not only for my contributions to a city that I love, but for the part I was fortunate enough to play in the larger history of hip-hop,” Heard says, as he reflects on the AAHCC’s growth.
“As a Cleveland artist, I had the opportunity not only to demonstrate that this art form could travel beyond its New York roots and grow in places like the Midwest,” he continues, “but also that an artist from outside New York could come into the birthplace of the culture, perform on its stages, be heard on its radio stations, and be accepted by New York audiences and fellow artists.”
With the revival of the AAHCC, Heard’s story is being celebrated alongside the broader history, arts and contributions of African Americans in Northeast Ohio.
The African American Heritage & Cultural Celebration takes place on Saturday, Aug. 22 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Cleveland History Center, 10825 East Boulevard, Cleveland 44106.
About the Author: Nate Paige
Nate Paige has worked in local journalism for more than 25 years, most of which was spent at Cleveland.com as a copy editor, community editor, hyperlocal producer, entertainment reporter, and social media coordinator. He got his start in the business at the Cleveland Call & Post. He currently handles social media for the city of Shaker Heights.