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RAP Szalet is a phenomenon born in Wrocław and created by two local lads, Wojtek Furmaniak and Mateusz Kornacki. Their RAP Szalet parties have recently won an award for best party in Poland. We spoke to the duo and would like to share their story with you and let you know that more parties are coming in Wroclaw in 2013. Wojtek is a club DJ, events promoter and an experienced animal on the Wrocław club scene under the alias of DJ Teskko. Connected with many legendary clubs, he brings alternative and underground club music rhythms onto the Wrocław dance floor in clubs like Kamfora (closed) and Puzzle (where he happens to be a booking manager at the moment). “Imported Goods” and “RAP Szalet” are two party labels organised by him now. Mateusz, also known as a party animal, is not a DJ but has always been fascinated by music and its development. He grew up listening to rap music (like thousands of other people from the Polish 80s generation that witnessed the birth of Polish hip hop in the mid 90s and got access to rap music on cable television and the earliest CDs). An awesome city insider and devoted Wrocławian, Mateusz runs a Wrocław-based tour and events company for a living. Mateusz and Wojtek are the duo that created RAP Szalet in May 2011. TWI: What is Rap Szalet? W&M: Rap Szalet is a daytime event organised in "Kafe Szalet"
The Wrocław International
in the summertime, usually once a month on Sunday. It's a huge gathering of DJs, party promoters, hip hop journalists and plenty of activists who select and play their favourite rap tunes open air. That is the musical side of the event. There is also another interestinging dimension to the event, food; fresh and homemade hamburgers are fried on the barbecue exclusively for the purposes of the event. All this is done for friends, families and people who visit the event and sit there the whole day enjoying the sun, cold beer, music and food. The party is for free. It's the best way to spend your Sunday in Wrocław, if you can't take holidays. TWI: What is the inspiration
January 2013
behind Rap Szalet? W&M: Mateusz saw a similar event in the US – a daytime party, huge barbecue, people dancing in the sun – which inspired us, along with our love of rap music, to create this one-of-a -kind event in Wrocław. We wanted to bring together all our creative friends and create something special and this is how RAP Szalet was born. Also, as many guys of our age don’t have too much time for holidays and somehow we are chained to Wrocław, it is always a great idea to make your holidays in the city as exciting as possible. And we don't want to have fun in clubs and closed spaces when it's +30C outside.
TWI: Who are the SzaletGoers? W&M: It's a great gathering place for friends. We are not teenagers any longer and we all have our daily routine and responsibilities. RAP Szalet is a great place to get all our friends and spend some time together. Of course, it doesn't mean it is a friends-only event. There's a huge bunch of people coming who love rap music and want to listen to it while relaxing on the grass in the middle of the city. A lot of people bring their kids and dogs. There is badminton being played, Frisbees flying all over people's heads; it's beautiful. TWI: What is the award that you have won?
W&M: Rap Szalet was nominated for the "Nocne Marki" award which is given by Aktivist, urban monthly magazine. We won in the SMS competition, gathering the most votes from our supporters and became the first Wrocław event to win. TWI: When is the Next RAP Szalet? W&M: The next Rap Szalet event is a club edition. It's called “Rap Szalet All Stars” and will take place on Dec 28th in Puzzle Club. We would like to thank everyone for supporting us all year round with this party. The first regular open air edition will probably be in May 2013. It all depends on the weather. No sun, no Rap Szalet.