Panel: “Using Hip-Hop for Global Empowerment”

The influence of Hip-Hop has grown far beyond its billion dollar industry based mainly in music, entertainment & fashion; across the world Hip-Hop is also making a significant impact socially, artistically, politically, educationally, and even spiritually. Members of the global Hip-Hop culture will discuss the community developments that are currently taking place, as well as what kind of outcomes are expected to happen within the next 5-10 years.

Topics include:

-The Universal Break Beat
-Telling Our Stories: The Hip-Hop Odyssey
-Hip-Hop Education
-Connecting similar struggles
-Finding a greater sense of self worth
-The Hip-Hop Nonprofit sector: How has this perspective shaping different types of NGO’s within the Hip-Hop community
-Women in Hip-Hop globally

Moderator:

Martha Diaz, President of the Hip-Hop Association

Panelists:

*John Fredericks, Director of Mr. Devious
*Ariel Fernandez, DJ & Cultural Promoter
*Marcella Runell, Ph.D. Candidate, Hip-Hop Education
*Minister Server, Temple of Hip-Hop

Film screening: Mr. Devious / Director: John Fredericks

Mr Devious is a definitive work of art for John Fredericks, writer and filmmaker from Cape Town, South Africa. Not only did the filmmaker and his main character have a deep bond as artists and co-workers, an unlikely friendship developed between a young rising hip hop mc (26 years) and an old writer (60 years).

Mario’s death was a huge blow to John, but in the mourning and healing process, a strong film idea emerged that went beyond a “tribute” and has ventured into the realm of hard-core documentary where the edge is true life in all its complexities reflected in the story. This is not anymore a film about mourning, about tribute or about hip-hop. It is a story of a remarkable young man and his people, and sends a strong message of social awareness in the engaging lyrics and electric on-stage presence of Devious in his own words.

The archive footage makes for remarkable documentary material that includes performances and a music video completed in Amsterdam, where Devious visited and worked with an organization called Baobab Connections, an anti-globalisation international organisation. The filmmaker presents an honest deeply thought-through film that reflects the passionate life, death and legacy of Mr. Devious, an icon of the Cape Flats and South Africa.

***Admission to this event is free. Tickets will be available at the NJPAC Box Office on the day of the performance. Admission is limited and will be on a first-come, first-served basis.