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Originally conceptualized and designed by founding ICU member Brian "B-Syde" Sanchez in March of 2005, the ICU symbol is a visual embodiment of ICU's mission, ideals and vision for the global Hip-Hop cultural movement. The following is a breakdown of the symbolism behind the symbol:
 The 5 white stars represent the 5 core elements of Hip-Hop. While the actual elements of Hip-Hop and their exact number differ from each individual or group, ICU's symbol focuses on the 5 universally acknowledged core elements of Breakdancing, Emceeing, Deejaying, Graffiti Art, and Beatboxing. These 5 core elements are unique unto Hip-Hop. They represent both the foundation and extensions of Hip-Hop Culture, conceived by the pioneers of Hip-Hop, while refined and redefined by Hip-Hop's present and future generations. Each element in it of itself has 5 points of its own. This means that even though a star represents one single element, it still inherently and equally represents the other 5 elements. You cannot separate that which is inherently one. In addition, these 5 stars represent the 5 points of ICU's Mission Statement -- the Preservation, Activism, Empowerment, Balance and Unity of Hip-Hop. The stars are white because ICU signifies the beacon of hope that sheds light in the darkness for the Hip-Hop cultural movement and for global society as a whole.
The white stars are surrounded by red circles which represent the universality of Hip-Hop within each element. This symbolizes that all peoples, regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, age or other aspects of division, can identify with the struggle that gave rise to the Hip-Hop movement. The color red signifies the blood of the struggle.
The big red star that connects each of the 5 white elemental stars represents the unity, interconnection and oneness among the elements of Hip-Hop. This star also embodies the often unrecognized yet most vital element that gravitates to and unites each and all other elements in Hip-Hop: the People. The color red signifies the blood of the struggle that gave rise to and defined the Hip-Hop cultural movement. The color red also signifies our inherent oneness because underneath our skin is the color of our blood. The red star also positions the respective white stars in equal distances signifying that no element is of greater value or importance than the other.
The 5 black lines that connect each white star into the center of the logo represent the darkness of uncertainty, because our struggle is born out of uncertain times, and that we as members of ICU represent the beacon that lights the path toward our destinies as One.
The gray globe in the back represents global unity. The white stars are positioned on each corner of the globe to represent the global reach of Hip-Hop from every corner of the world. The color gray represents balance and non-duality, since it is neither black nor white AND it is black and white simultaneously.
The white circle that surrounds the entire logo represents the shared light of Oneness, balance, and equality within the Hip-Hop cultural movement and the world itself. |
