This New Show at Monterey Celebrates Cars and Hip-Hop

As a regular attendee of the world’s most celebrated concours, it’s easy to become as jaded as a shopping-mall Santa after decades of seeing the same old people and even older cars do what they have done every year since Harry Truman was president. With a morning Bloody Mary in hand, we dodge women clutching lap dogs and listen to announcers droning on about being “honored to announce the Earl of East Cummerbund and his immaculately presented Avoirdupois Phaeton,” as a lugubrious recording of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos pipes over the PA like so much Muzak wallpaper.

Clown suits and straw hats are the stuff of Pee Wee Herman, and yet we car people wear them every year, pretending that—like eating snails is preferable to a hamburger—we are where we want to be. But what if you could put on a tee shirt, some blue jeans, and simply escape? Car lovers tired of the same-old-same-old will want to attend UpShift, a brand-new event on the Monterey Car Week calendar that debuts Thursday, August 15, at the SandBox venue in Sand City, just ten minutes from Monterey, Calif.

Not your “usual” car show, UpShift promises a welcoming atmosphere and a fresh perspective on automobiles and the enthusiasts who love them. Presented by Hemmings and Motoring Culture Club (MC2), UpShift is intended to “democratize car culture, build community, and bring people together to celebrate cars in all their forms,” according to UpShift’s official announcement. Everything—from classics to muscle cars, tuner cars to lowriders—plays a role.

Those of us who are old enough to remember Hemmings Motor News in its original form, recall when it was the go-to resource for collectors looking for a classic car. Yet what was once only a fat magazine filled with classified ads—long before the internet was even born—has today expanded its focus to include an online presence with a more comprehensive vision, one reflected in this inaugural event.

According to Hemmings president, Jonathan Shaw, “UpShift represents a pivotal moment as we continue to promote an inclusive classic-car culture. This event not only highlights the influence of Hip-Hop on automotive history, but also invites a broader audience—whether seasoned aficionados or those new to the scene—to experience the joy and passion for classic cars.”

As for the assemblage of vehicles, it’s indeed evidence that the times they are a-changin’. Highlights promise to include Grammy Award–winning rapper Killer Mike’s Buick Grand National, a tribute display honoring the late rapper Nipsey Hussle, a Maybach 57 inspired by New Orleans artist Birdman, and a 1964 Chevrolet Impala (opening image)—an iconic model more recently embraced by the West Coast Hip-Hop scene. The Impala has been the choice of lowrider builders since the model’s creation 60 years ago, back when The Beatles brought American teenagers to their knees on The Ed Sullivan Show. It seems the enduring Chevy continues to stoke creative fires even today.

UpShift will also present a photography exhibit with work by artist-enthusiasts featuring Hip-Hop cars and their subjects, while a virtual music set by DJ Self Born creates a sonic landscape evoking the spirit of the 1980s through early 2000s. And those who love distinctive timepieces will enjoy the Luxury Watch Showcase, courtesy of event sponsor Complecto, a group committed to amplifying  underrepresented brands in the watch industry and sharing those with car enthusiasts who, likely as not, appreciate fine wrist candy as much as they do a fine automobile.