Photo by Neidy Gutierrez / SOC Images.
Guitar riffs, hip-hop snares, food munchies and basketball dribbles—if you put that all together, you’ll get just a sliver of What Hoboken Sounds Like.
Victor and Amanda Lopez have been highlighting music, food, sports and more from underrepresented Hoboken communities through their non-profit “What Hoboken Sounds Like” since 2021.
“We noticed a lot of different things from where I’m from. It’s really one of those underserved communities where you notice a handful of talent that grows within there… and you notice that there’s not a platform that’s helping elevate these artists…,” Victor said.
“They feel like they’re being overlooked or they feel like they’re not being served in a way that’s gonna help elevate them. It’s like when you’re a child and you always feel left out of something, you find a way to include yourself into these things.”
Amplifying Hoboken’s Different Voices
What Hoboken Sounds Like was created through the desire of wanting to help elevate the overlooked talent in Hoboken—which is exactly what their non-profit has since become. It’s become an organization where all voices in the city are showcased.
“I wanna show Hoboken what it truly sounds like by showing all the voices within the city,” said Victor. “There’s more than just uptown in Hoboken. There’s downtown here, there’s a lot of great people, regardless of being from the Hoboken projects we’re [still] capable of making a difference.”
For Victor, the platform also symbolized “taking a stand for something that you believed in.” As a former musician, he understood the hoops that artists have to go through for recognition or exposure, and while there were a lot of different blogs or publications that offered this, there were still things that were missing—and with that he used What Hoboken Sounds Like to fill in the gap.
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Celebrate Hoboken’s Art
Victor, the CEO and founder of the non-profit, grew up surrounded by hip-hop and named it as one of his major influences, which has played a “major factor” in a lot of things they do. The couple, who are born and raised in the mile-square town, are both graphic designers while Amanda specializes in foodie and Victor also bolsters being a rap artist, songwriter, fashion designer and filmmaker under his belt.
Hip-hop influenced What Hoboken Sounds Like to curate Hoboken’s only hip-hop festival, which just passed its second year and has been a huge success. The festival, Summer Blockfest, was held this past August where they showcased local businesses like Hoboken Prints and merry, gave a stage to local artists like GENERAL ACE and Phat Rob and more.
The love for hip-hop was also implemented in their July event, which was a one-day basketball tournament that honored everyone who was lost to gun violence in their community. The Vail Stones x Street Friends basketball tournament also featured local artists, food vendors and more.
“It was beautiful. It took off so well, it was like watching a baby take its first steps,” Amanda said.
“… I believe fear and failure are your biggest enemies because it always makes you feel like it’s gonna happen. And then you start to see the steps and you start to see how beautiful it’s coming together. And it really did, it really pulled together so beautifully. And without him, none of that would’ve happened.”
There’s one aspect that What Hoboken Sounds Like constantly puts at its core: art. But even the meaning behind “art” is a broad term, Amanda, the organization’s vice president, explained.
“Art is a wide subject. Art isn’t only just music. It’s not only just painting. It is so many different things, which is why we have different categories for What Hoboken Sounds Like. There’s a music department, there is a food department—which I run—there is a community engagement department, there is a sports department. Art is so general. So it holds such a high standard to us,” she said.
“There’s so many different forms of art and it gives you, as the viewers, a variety rather than just the music.”
And through these events, fostered impact, led to Victor receiving a proclamation from the city of Hoboken in October for the work he had done and continues to do.
“I thank God for this blessing tonight. I’m grateful and humbled to receive this proclamation from Mayor Bhalla and the City of Hoboken, recognizing my commitment to amplifying local voices. Through What Hoboken Sounds Like, I’ve dedicated myself to uniting our city, celebrating diversity, and creating a platform where all voices are heard—through music, events like Hoboken’s first Hip-Hop festival, our @summerblockfest , The 2nd annual @swfesthoboken , community initiatives, and much much more,” they wrote in an Instagram post.
I’m proud to contribute to Hoboken’s cultural landscape and deeply grateful for my incredible staff and family, my 4 amazing kids, Ariyanna, Victor III, Anthony & Aurelia—especially my wife @_thefoodiegoddess_ , my co-founder and VP, who’s been my rock through sleepless nights, even during pregnancy. A heartfelt thank you to my senior advisor, @iam4cg , for helping me shape our vision, and to Councilman @rubenjr1973 for this great honor.
As a proud Latino, it’s especially meaningful to be recognized during Hispanic Heritage Month.”
Looking ahead, Victor and Amanda already have some things rolling out.
They’ve announced their upcoming Foodie Fest, set for April 5 and will celebrate “community, creativity and causes” like Autism Awareness/Acceptance. They kicked off the second edition of their Hoboken Rap Challenge; and are working on building up their next brand, What Jersey City Sounds Like.
“I can’t reveal the presidents of it just yet, but they will be revealed soon,” Victor smiled. “They’re very invested in the culture in Jersey City and how it could change because Jersey City is full [of a] wide pool of many talented creatives, and it’s just about that time that it spreads out even more.”
For anyone interested in getting involved with What Hoboken Sounds Like, Victor and Amanda said to just directly message them.
Wrapping up in Black Rail Cafe, Victor went through the different details of his varsity jacket, which he and his wife designed. It read “The Class of Now” stitched onto the state of New Jersey with other Jersey easter eggs.
“I want people to acknowledge the fact that there’s no need to compete with each other. Everyone eats. It gives more room for community that way.”
