If you watched the Super Bowl yesterday, you may have noticed the moving performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by deaf rapper Warren Snipe.
Snipe is the originator of what he terms “Dip Hop,” a new genre of hip hop as seen through deaf eyes. This distinct style focuses on education through music, helping the hearing community to better understand the life and personal experiences of the deaf community.
Originator of Dip Hop
The Kansas City Chiefs faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Super Bowl LV, in which deaf rapper Warren Snipe, aka “Wawa,” performed not only the national anthem but also “America the Beautiful” in American Sign Language (ASL).
“Snipe is the originator of what he terms ‘Dip Hop,’ a new genre of hip hop as seen through deaf eyes.”
The rapper, who wears a cochlear implant, hails from Washington DC. He has released two albums: “Deaf: So What‽” and “Wamilton.” He has been involved in the scene since 2005. In his own words, he “Intends to aspire to inspire.”
Snipe worked with the National Deaf Dance Theatre and was a founding member of Wild Zappers in 1989, along with Irvine Stewart and Fred Michael Beam. Their purpose was to promote cultural and educational awareness through entertainment within deaf and hearing communities.
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