Arizona - February 2010

It’s extremely difficult to recap that last 8 days. I usually get so caught up in the moment that one day blends into the other. Thank God I take photos! For those interested…here’s what happened…

I was suppose to fly out on Wednesday the 10th—the day of the big blizzard. Realizing that we had just missed a HUGE storm the previous weekend and that we wouldn’t be that lucky this time around, I spent all of Monday morning on the phone with US Airways seeing if they could get me out a day earlier…thank God I did! I left on Tuesday, while Core’s and Rabbi’s Wednesday flights were cancelled…

I arrived in AZ to the temperature of 70 degrees, and spent the next 24 hours locked in doors working out a solo set for the nationally-renowned Blunt Club. My homies Doug “The Professional” Quick, Dumper Foo, Pickster One and DJ Element started this party back in 2002 when I was still living in AZ. Almost 8 years later they're still holding down authentic Hip Hop culture in the Valley. Pretty much everyone on the underground has rocked their stage…I’m just blessed to have been a part of it all...










The next two mornings were spent at the Metro Arts Institute running a couple of workshops and a Master Class for some aspiring artists. I kid you not when I say that I could spend the rest of my life doing this kinda work! Working with High School students in an art-school setting made me realize how much of my time back in NYC is spent trying to prove to the powers that be that art—let alone Hip Hop can be an integral part to the learning process--that it can be a tool for social change. 

The kids at Metro Arts really get it! Thanks to Kris Hill for hooking it up, and thanks to Fernando and Kerry for supplying the students...you should be extremely proud of them!

Core caught up with me in AZ for day 2 at the Metro Arts Institute, a recording session with Foundation and Universatile Music's Eyedea and Abilities show later that night in Snotts-dale…







Tuesday I ended my mini-tour of sorts at The Lost Leaf for Thriftshop’s Downtime party. The Lost Leaf is on a street of houses/galleries where 2 of my homies own property—one a print shop and the other an art gallery. Every time I come back to AZ I question what I'm still doing living in NYC (more like what am I still doing losing so much in rent each month instead of investing it into something more substantial--like a home)...and then I get restless...


On a plane…back to the hustle and bustle of The City, I count my blessings…Hip Hop I do believe…until next time I remain thought in action…Peace!



Pay to the piper
what you owe, what you need.
Things will change,
just you see.

If tomorrow doesn't fulfill your wanting,
feed, sustain.
That will change.
It was meant to be.

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...