Dunedin Hip-Hop Goes Hero to Strike Out Cancer

Jon Didier arrives a little frazzled on a recent Monday at Blur Night Club.

Didier, 25, a city parks and recreation employee recognized by his trademark dark-rimmed glasses and dreadlocks, explains a crazy day wrought with car problems.

He made it just in time to start setting up for Hip-Hop Open Mic Night with his pajama-clad friend Derek Saballos, only to discover an unprecedented problem with the mic lines. 

All of the tension melts away when Didier lets go and allows his hip-hip alter ego "J Ditty" take over as emcee at 10 p.m. when free-styling is scheduled to begin. In the back, live local graffiti artists are spraying on large planks of wood or other canvases. 

He introduces the small, loyal gathering to Dunedin Lyricist Society's only rules:

1. Freestyle only.
2. Rap for the duration of the beat.
3. Intend to participate, not to shine.

And then, the floodgates are open for witty, off-the-cuff goofiness. (Didier warns, however, these nights are uncensored.)

He likes to support local artists, musicians and groups as much as possible. This Monday, April 22, Dunedin Lyricist Society's open mic is for Dunedin Relay for Life.

The whole thing is modeled after an event Didier attended regularly while a student at University of Central Florida in Winter Park.

In Dunedin, hip-hop was a basically non-existent scene in 2006 when he wrote his first rap and began collaborating with Saballos, his Gators pajama-wearing, Open Mic Night co-hort, also known as "DJ D-Rok." The duo also now perform as part of hip-hop group project: SAVE c.a. hircus.

Didier loved having the Winter Park open mic as a creative outlet for himself, and sought to carve one into the social woodwork for his fellow hip-hop music and culture enthusiasts in Dunedin.

With the help of the Dunedin House of Beer, he launched the town's first hip-hop open mic night in June 2012. 

Attendance at flourished from word of mouth alone, drawing crowds of up to 40 to 50 people every Monday. Some Blur bartenders discovered the small hub of local talent and invited the Dunedin Lyricist Society to their larger venue in February. 

J Ditty's largest draw at Blur is about 100 people, he said.

Even though it's frantic at times because he's created a weekly obligation for himself, he's happy he can provide a constructive freestyle outlet for others.

"Some of the lines that come out of these people on the spot make me laugh out loud," Didier said.

Want to Go?

• When: Mondays starting at 10 p.m., doors open at 9 p.m.
• Where:Blur Nightclub & Show Bar
• Cost: No cover charge
• Ages: 21 and up

Special Shout Outs: Mikey, Brooke and Megan (from J Ditty).

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