More than 100 SF State students gathered in Jack Adams Hall for the fourth annual Hip-Hop Unity Jam, a celebration of art, music and culture.

The Jam was the last of seven events hosted by the Black Student Union (BSU) - a campus organization - in honor of Black History Month on Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. With over 20 live performances, the event was the first of four Hip Hop Unity Jams to blend rap music with spoken word, poetry and African dance.

“It is an event for some, and a movement for others,” said Samuel Carr, 30, a BSU member and the show's coordinator. “It was important tonight that we put over 20 acts together. The campus hasn’t seen anything like that since I’ve been here.”

Students participated in the latest dance craze, known as the hyphy movement, which originated in Northern California, and they were joined by an Oakland-based dance troop called, Turf Feinz. At one point, a group of about 50 students gathered in a circle to show off their moves.

Turf Feinz has been performing for almost a year, according to Tiffany Sllers, 20, the group's manager. The members are between the ages of 15 to 18.

“I’ve been dancing all my life,” said 16-year-old Tracey Enskip (aka First Lady) a Turf Feinz member. “We have fun doing what we do, that is the whole point.”

Turf Feinz is featured in the rapper E-40's music video, and will also appear in rapper Too Short’s new video for the song, “Blow This Whistle,” which they performed live at the event.

Twenty-two-year-old SF State students Naser Halteh and Christopher Kazaleh performed one of three songs entitled, “Palestine My Homeland,” which relates the struggles of Palestinians to those of blacks in America.

“I don’t forget my roots..." said Kazaleh, a social science major. “It is very important for black people to be proud of where they come from too.”

Another student performed a poem that she wrote about the negative stigma attached to dark skin in African American culture.

“I thought this would be a great opportunity to get my message and frustrations out, said Talona Hobert, 19, BSU member and journalism major. “We all need to stick together regardless of color.”

Organizers of the event explained the importance of Black History Month.

“Black history is important because this is a time when people from all over the country come to embrace African culture,” said 28-year-old Hazel Jay, an education major and BSU member.

“We will celebrate the 28 days,” said Carr. “But once tomorrow comes, we are celebrating black history in every thing we do.”

Topping the night off was a performance from San Quinn, a renowned Bay Area rapper from San Francisco. He performed hits from his latest album entitled, “The Rock: Pressure Makes Diamonds.”

“I’ve been doing this all four years,” said Quinn, 28, referring to the annual Hip Hop Unity Jams. “Everyday is important for black people.”