Collective Hip-Hop AN: Artistic Original Society, better known as “C.H.A.O.S.,” is a group of students who showcase their poetry, music, comedy and visual arts talents. The group is centered around hip hop and what it means to the African-American culture. Members describe it as their voice, a movement and overall the best feeling one could have.

Senior sociology major and current president of the group LaToysha Brown is also over the poetry committee, guiding young poets to get a better understanding of their work and make them better writers.

Brown has been with C.H.A.O.S. for four years.

“C.H.A.O.S. is family and it is also art. This is the place where I have been able to craft my art and be cocky about it, and I know that my pen is nice,” Brown said.

C.H.A.O.S. is predominately African-American and has been since its founding in 2006.

“I have been around these people that have helped to craft my work and have helped me to be the best,” Brown said. “This is a place for black students to come and be unapologetically. We don’t believe in politics and we have so many conversations outside of the art form that people don’t realize. C.H.A.O.S. is a forward-thinking origination that also consists of art.”

Junior English major Cherish Triplett is the vice president and has been in the group since age 16 and is the head of the art committee.

“C.H.A.O.S. means family, and I have been here longer than anyone else,” Triplett said.

“In 2009 they came to my hometown, and they discovered me, a young uninspired poet which they later took under their wing. Hip hop for me is lifestyle and a movement. I always tell myself if it wasn’t for hip hop, the way we move and speak would not exists. Hip hop is for everyone, and we all have a place in hip hop.”

Everything that is hip hop is a part of C.H.A.O.S., and it gives them a way to express themselves not only to Southern Miss but to the world. Originally started in South Bronx, New York, in the 1980s and 90s, hip hop has changed people’s lives dramatically.

Junior kinesiology major Marcus Beecham oversees the music committee in C.H.A.O.S.

“I been in C.H.A.O.S. for about three years now,” Beecham said. “When I come around these guys, I feel as if they have my best interest in heart. Hip hop is my culture, and I grew up around a lot of R&B old music such has Erykah Badu, Al Green and The Temptations. When I make music, I go for those guys for inspiration.”

On Oct. 10, C.H.A.O.S. hosted an open mic night. Brown said more than 20 people signed up to perform.

“We had 24 people to sign up for the show which is great because when you have that many people sign up for a show, you may not actually get that many people to come out,” Brown said. “It goes to show how people respect the organization and what we do. I felt that the performers were great despite some technical difficulties but people pushed through and there were a lot of great moments.”

C.H.A.O.S. will have events throughout the year, and anyone is welcome to attend.

C.H.A.O.S. meetings start at 7:30 p.m on Mondays in College Hall.