This August, the African American Heritage & Cultural Celebration (AAHCC) will return to Cleveland after 20 years with a special tribute to one of the Land’s own: Kevin Chill Heard, former reporter for The Land and known by some as hip-hop artist MC Chill. The celebration will take place August 21-22 at the Cleveland History Center (10825 E. Blvd., Cleveland). According to promotional material from the Western Reserve Historical Society, prior to the 20-year hiatus, the event was popular and attracted thousands of attendees.
The AAHCC
The free two-day event, which will be hosted by the Western Reserve Historical Society and RLRIII & Associates, will celebrate the 40th anniversary of MC Chill becoming the first Cleveland hip-hop artist to sign with Fever Records, a national record company.
The celebration will include a panel of big names in the hip-hop scene, live music, vendors, a poetry slam, entry to the Cleveland History Center and activities for children.
There will also be a screening of the two-hour long 2025 docuseries, “216: Legends of the Land,” by filmmaker Joseph “Jay Kool” Glover. The series documents the early years of Cleveland hip-hop and the city’s contribution to the genre, filling a gap in hip-hop history which often focuses exclusively on the influence of New York City and West Coast hip-hop artists.
The Cleveland History Center will also be available to assist with genealogical and family research. Dedicated to preserving documents that tell the story of Northeastern Ohio’s past, the center has acquired a unique collection of primary source materials, as well as access to online genealogical records. Since 1970, it has also been home to the African American Archives, which preserves documents related to African American life in Northeast Ohio.
Roxanne Shanté
At a press conference announcing the AAHCC’s return, MC Chill was joined by Roxanne Shanté, one of hip-hop’s first woman celebrities and the subject of the Netflix biopic, “Roxanne, Roxanne.” Shanté will participate in the Friday night hip-hop panel on August 21. Shanté noted her desire to be present at the celebration, stating that she no longer goes anywhere she does not want to go. She later expounded on her eagerness to participate in the AAHCC as she expressed her gratitude for “40 years of MC Chill friendship.” She then commented on her appreciation of Cleveland and its “certain underlying southern hospitality,” saying, “So that’s the reason that I love Cleveland and I hope Cleveland loves me!”
Shanté, who spoke about her own time in the foster care system and her work as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in the system, offered an inspiring message for youth who are facing similar challenges: “Never walk with the labels they give you … you must create your own label and walk with that.” She later emphasized this, saying, “Make your name a brand so you don’t have to wear name brands.”
A Reunion
Much of the press conference felt like a reunion and, in a way, it was. There were several representatives from the Call & Post in attendance and Kevin “MC Chill” Heard, who has spent years working at the Call & Post, made a point of recognizing his colleagues.
At one point in the conference, MC Chill’s mother, sporting a jacket bearing the words, “Mama Chill – The Fever…catch it” expressed her pride for her son as the audience cheered, “Mama Chill!”
Other press conference attendees included participants in the National Youth Sports Program at Case Western Reserve University and a representative from Karamu House. Karamu House is a Cleveland gem which, according to its website, is the oldest African American production theatre in the nation.
Kevin “MC CHILL” Heard
MC Chill, who stood beside his original 1980s boombox, educated the audience about the genre that he has contributed so much to. He emphasized the importance of the four key elements of hip-hop: rapping (MCing), breakdancing (B-boying and B-girling), DJing and graffiti. MC Chill noted the particular importance of DJing which was, according to him, “first and foremost” because it created the entire genre.
He also told the story of how his own career was launched onto the national stage when he eagerly accepted an invitation to pick up a 14-year-old Shanté, who was visiting Cleveland while touring with Mr. Magic. His encounter with the latter led to MC Chill’s record deal with Fever Records and ascension to national fame.
Beyond facilitating his introduction to Mr. Magic, that invitation also launched a 40-year friendship between Shanté and MC Chill, a relationship which MC Chill credits with helping him to feel included in the New York dominated hip-hop scene.
During the concluding question and answer segment of the conference, MC Chill had a message for the Cleveland rappers of today: “I want all Cleveland hip-hop artists to know…as I look at the people who come after me, I am so proud that the legacy of Cleveland hip-hop continued.”
It is this legacy, along with many other aspects of Cleveland’s Black culture, which will be on display next month at the AAHCC.
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