Critical Breakdown in Review

Critical Breakdown in Review is a collection of stories and interviews about one of Boston’s most memorable open-mics. Sivia Malloy and Kyara Andrade (DJ TROY Frost) aim to capture the history of Critical Breakdown and its impact on Boston’s Hip Hop Community in this archival project.

(Project image: Photo credit, Damon Butler)

Project Community Partner

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Sivia Malloy

Learning Strategies and Media Technologist

Sivia Malloy holds a M.Ed. in Instructional Design and a graduate certificate in Instructional Technology Design from UMass Boston’s College of Education and Human Development. Her capstone project entitled “Hip-Hop History: Grades 9-12 local history curriculum” was developed to encourage educators and students to develop critical thinking skills to advance understanding of hip-hop culture in their local community. She received a bachelor’s degree in Visual and Media Arts from Emerson College and an Associate’s degree in Telecommunications Technology from Springfield Technical Community College in Springfield Massachusetts. Combining just a few of her passions for vintage relics and stories through media technology, her work also includes lead videographer for the Mass Hip Hop Archive’s Rock Against Racism 40th Anniversary in 2019 and Show ‘Em Watcha’ Got in 2018. 

Project College Instructor

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Kyara Andrade-Howell

Artist, Educator, Event Curator

Kyara Andrade-Howell also known as DJ TROY Frost is an artist, educator, and event curator from Dorchester and Roxbury. She started DJing in 2013 and completed Scratch DJ Academy’s certification program in 2015. After graduating from Barnard College in 2017, she worked for Boston Public Schools in varying roles. In 2019, she piloted The Breaks, an enrichment program which gave 15 Boston youth an introduction to the pillars of Hip Hop. Kyara now works part time as a library coordinator at middle/high school and at Frugal Bookstore in Roxbury. She teaches Hip Hop & Black History classes periodically. She is currently working on growing Purple Produce, an event series dedicated to creating events focused on Hip Hop, wellness, literacy and community collaboration.