The Washington D.C. nightlife is a vibrant metro train of events that never stops. With a collection of bars in Adams Morgan, an assortment of lounges on U Street, and various clubs speckled all around the District, the city is a host for many interesting venues and events. But no event thus far is more Hip-Hop inspired than Tyrone Norris’ Cake & Kisses. Located at Asylum Bar and Lounge in the heart of Adams Morgan, Cake & Kisses is the hip-hop event to attend on a Thursday night.

Every first Thursday of each month, many hip-hop enthusiasts and lovers of Cakelove cake and Hershey’s Kisses come together to vibe out at an “organic open mic.” During the open mic portion, anyone in the audience with the courage to get on stage can perform on the mic backed by the eclectic sounds of a live band. Although many people get on the mic just to have fun and loosen up, the open mic has been graced with the presence of countless aspiring DMV emcees and singers who want to gain exposure in the DMV hip-hop scene and brush up on their mic and performance skills.

After the open mic portion ends, the live concert session commences in which up and coming DMV hip-hop acts like Kev Brown, Rosetta Stoned, Lyriciss, PHZ-Sicks, The Five One, and many more are able to perform and have a one-on-one interaction with the crowd. But the Cake & Kisses experience doesn’t end there. At every event there is free cake provided by Cakelove and free Hershey’s Kisses for everyone to enjoy; hence the name Cake & Kisses.

Cake & Kisses Thursday held in July - picture courtesy of Sexy Fitsum

And simultaneously in the basement of Asylum during every Cake event there are independent vendors like “Hella Tuff Stuff” selling vintage hand made arts and crafts, jewelry and handbags, couture style skirts, jeans, blouses and tees and the most current threads from a variety of up and coming clothing lines like “One vs Many.” When you mix hip-hop with a live band, djs, free cake, couture clothing, a diverse set of people and the gothic setting of Asylum; you get an experience like no other. You get a “Cake & Kisses” affair.

When looking around Asylum from the crowd you see many kinds of ethnic groups and nationalities mingling and jamming to the same sound. This is because Cake & Kisses is an event where various musical genres and lifestyles intertwine and help shape a melting pot of hip-hop enthusiasm. The house band plays a variety of music genres.

Cake & Kisses Thursday held in July - picture courtesy of Sexy Fitsum

They have been known to blend hip-hop with reggae and rock. And not only is the music blended, the site of the rock loving gothic girl “vibing” with the skater boy hip hopper or the preppy kid wearing the cardigan sweater and Dockers is not uncommon either and it is this diversity that makes every person attending these events feel comfortable. This blending of music and ethnic groups is part of what makes the Cake & Kisses experience so unique. I have attended Cake & Kisses on four occasions and each experience was different from the last and it is this reason that I would advise everyone to experience Cake & Kisses at least once.

Every Cake & Kisses event lasts from nine at night on Thursday to about one thirty Friday morning. Asylum is located at 2471 18th St in Northwest, Washington D.C. You can follow Cake & Kisses on twitter at: @cakparty or become a fan on facebook.