When producer and rapper Ave took the floor Tuesday night at the third monthly hip-hop "conference" at Jamaica Junction, he started the evening with a somber comment about the death of a young man that occurred over the weekend in Chicago.

The young man, a high school student who was caught in the middle of a gang fight, was beaten to death.

"We got to have everybody in their communities support the youth," said Bradley Arzner, who performs under the name Ave. "I don't mean to put a dark cloud over the evening but we have to come together."

These positive themes in the face of struggle were reflected throughout the event, dubbed a "conference," and aimed to bring fans and performers of the various aspects of the genre together, said Arzner's brother and rap partner, Luke "L.V." Arzner.

The evening consisted of two hours of performances, five songs each from four different artists, followed by an open-mic and freestyle section. The brothers aim to not only promote their act and bring people together but to also bring hip-hop to State College, said Luke Arzner.

"I try to touch on a lot of social issues," said Luke Arzner, who said he considers himself a "conscious" rapper. "It's an outlet for that, but at the same time I don't like to be preachy so I mix in fun tracks."

L.V. is the frontman and rapper and Ave does production, said Bradley Arzner. Luke Arzner said he has been rapping since he was 12 or 13 and honing his skills over the last four years while Ave was in jail for drug charges.

Bradley Arzner, whose wife was three months pregnant when he was in jail, said his life has significantly changed over the last few years, and said he tries to be a positive influence to his peers through example and his music.

"Music is deep for me; it stretches farther than entertainment -- it's in every orifice of life," said Bradley Arzner. "Education comes from the Greek word 'to bring out' and that's all we can do. We can't force anything on anyone."

Aside from L.V. and Ave, Bellefonte resident Adonis Moore, known as Woo Da Wind, and Williamsport natives 3rd Degree Infantry, each performed as well, along with others. Moore performed at the event last month and said he doesn't aim for fame but takes his craft very seriously.

"Where I want to go is heaven," said Moore. "Rapping won't get me there. It's a platform -- I choose rappin' because it gets the message out that way. I got a gift and I'm trying to use it."