Every Wednesday, the heart of campus transforms into a celebration of music, movement, and community. Hosted by the Center for Student Engagement in collaboration with multicultural groups across campus, Hip Hop Wednesday blends the energy of a fair with the soul of a block party. Tables line Greene Street as student organizations offer food, drinks, and merchandise-often raising funds for their organizations or community causes-while the sounds of bass and laughter fill the air. This monthly celebration has become a hallmark of community and connection at USC, as students get the chance to explore new places and opportunities at their school.
“I hope they see… there are so many spaces to get involved and find connection and home on this big campus,” said Morgan Thomas.
That sense of belonging defines Hip Hop Wednesday. It is a space built for students of all cultures and backgrounds to come together and form a community. Kendall McKnight, president of the Association of African American Students, described this impact.
“Hip Hop Wednesday really is vital to our community,” McKnight said. “It’s our sense of engagement while being on campus. We’re expressing ourselves, going out there in different ways and showing another part of campus that people don’t always see.”
McKnight said the event provides a unique space for multicultural organizations to connect with the larger student body — one that feels more personal than the university’s larger organization fairs. The weekly gathering allows students to share their culture, promote their clubs, and spark conversations that might not happen elsewhere on campus.
For many Black student organizations, that visibility is more than symbolic. Groups like the Association of African American Students, the National Pan-Hellenic Council fraternities and sororities, and cultural affinity clubs use Hip Hop Wednesday as a built-in stage to highlight their work, recruit new members, and celebrate Black culture in a space that feels authentically theirs. McKnight said the weekly gathering creates opportunities for students who might not otherwise cross paths to connect over shared heritage, art, music, and community goals. By tabling, performing, or simply showing up, these organizations help shape the event’s identity and ensure that Black student life is not just present but centered. It becomes both a showcase and a meeting ground, where students can see themselves reflected in the campus community and where others can learn, engage, and show support.
“It’s one of the few times we really get our own spotlight,” McKnight said. “You can go to the org fair, but there might be hundreds of other organizations there. Hip Hop Wednesday gives us that chance to really be seen and to reach people who might not have found us otherwise.”
Nya Tomlin, president of Alpha Phi Omega, a service-based organization focused on leadership, friendship, and volunteerism, echoed those same sentiments about community but also emphasized the event’s creative and restorative energy.
“It gives everybody a chance to wind down and relax from our busy schedules… and express ourselves,” Tomlin said.
That atmosphere of inspiration is immediately apparent — from the hand-painted art displays to the choreographed dances by members of the different Panhellenic Greek organizations. Mariah Lash and Oluwatobi Odubena, president and vice president of Zeta Phi Beta, both perform and table at Hip Hop Wednesday and shared insights into their experiences over the years. As freshmen, they once found a sense of belonging on Greene Street themselves — and now, they help create that same welcoming space for others.
“I just want people to know they have a space within this university, no matter what they look like, what morals they have, or what major they’re a part of,” Lash said.
Hip Hop Wednesday is all about giving students a place to belong. Whether the interest lies in Greek life, service or any of the hundreds of campus clubs, a few conversations on Greene Street are often all it takes to find community.
Hip Hop Wednesday also serves as one of the best opportunities for newer students on campus. Neveah Sutton and Tamia Wilson spoke about the freshman experience with such an inclusive and opportunity-filled event. After hearing about Hip Hop Wednesday from friends, they decided to attend — only to end up staying for hours, soaking in the music, lemonade, dancing, and easygoing atmosphere. They expressed excitement for the next Hip Hop Wednesday, December 3rd, and hoped that anyone looking for a place to belong would find time on future Wednesdays to clear their schedules and stop by.
If one event can be recommended to new students, it would be Hip Hop Wednesday — a reminder that there is a place for everyone at USC. The event’s energy, culture, and connection transform Greene Street into more than just a street; it becomes a crossroads of community. Whether stopping by for the music, the food, or the friendships, students leave with something more lasting — a sense of belonging that extends far beyond Wednesday afternoon.
