Few and far between indeed...

No real reason to try to recap the last 6 months of life other than to let you know...

1) In the middle of my last semester at NYU before I actually start working solely on my thesis. I'm developing my own Masters Degree in Hip Hop Re:Education, which looks at Hip Hop culture as a tool for activism and community building. My time thus far has been spent defining and refining an approach to my artistic craft that wholly embraces my role as an agent of change. Whether on stage, behind a camera or in a classroom (or all three at the same time) Hip Hop pedagogy guides my work. I'm focusing on 4 main areas of study: remix aesthetics, art for social change, the role of artist as ethnographer and the process of glocalization. Ultimately, I'm going to be organizing a mutli-medium, inter-disciplinary artistic exhibit (aka a Freestyle Monument) that tells the story of Hip Hop Re:Education.

2) I'm working as the NYC Program Manager for the Bronx-Berlin Connection, a youth intercultural exchange program serving youth both in Berlin and NYC. This past fall, 15 youth emcees from Berlin and their adult mentor emcees came to New York City for a Hip Hop immersion experience that I helped organize a few events/workshops for. Now I'm managing approximately 15 NYC youth in the development of tracks for an international compilation record. I'm running workshops with youth from CUNY Prep, Urban Word and Urban Arts Partnership. I'm organizing the actual recording sessions, which will begin in late February. Finally, I'll be working with partners at Gangway E.v., the German youth street organization that put this all together, and CUNY Prep to raise funds for a potential return-trip to Berlin for the release of the record next Fall.

3) I'm beginning to oversee the development of the Hip Hop Theater Initiative website in conjunction with Daniel Banks, Ph.D. and DNAWorks.

4) I've begun working with the Hip Hop Education Center housed at the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education at New York University. Martha Diaz and the Hip Hop Association have put together a fierce team of Hip Hop activists, educators, scholars, artists and agents of change to:

a) be the leading institution researching and developing the Hip-Hop education field to support those interested in
empowering youth and reducing drop out rates, poverty, crime and violence.

b) provide resources and tools for extensive analysis on cross-discipline teaching and learning, and effective educational
equity techniques and collaborative models that impact student achievement and their communities.

c) serve as a catalyst for urban ecosystem upgrades and innovations to meet the needs of underprivileged and marginalized
people.

Right now I'm just helping organize their media library (which holds over 400 films!!!!) and helping facilitate a couple of youth programs, but I can't wait to be done with my school work, so that I can start doing more!

5) My next album is moving at a snails pace...I wonder why?

I hope to update this blog more frequently...if for any other reason but to procrastinate all the other shit I should be taking care of. LOL

I'm gonna be out west rocking a few shows, youth workshops and master classes next week, so stay-tuned for some thought food.

Peace,
Far

PS - Something to chew on for now...