Global 2017 — Next Level

From June 19th to July 2nd, seven Hip Hop artists traveled to Washington, D.C. and New York City as part of the Next Level program. MC Lilibeth Rodríguez “MC Maríposa” Diaz (Colombia), MC Yas Werneck (Brazil), MC Mohammad “Domdom” Indra Gandhi (Indonesia), Dancer Yacine “Yacine Poppin’ Pasta” Gouasmia (Algeria), DJ Rami “Supaflava” Mhazres (Tunisia), Dancer Mirta Ljulj a.k.a. James (Croatia) joined team manager Paul Rockower to learn more about Hip Hop through workshop and practice, perform for audiences and collaborate with local artists to promote cross-cultural creative exchange and conflict transformation.

In Washington, DC, workshops addressed themes of building community programs, social activism and Hip Hop, and entrepreneurship. The entrepreneurship programs explored very practical issues and topics, such as contracts, rights and royalties, branding, and social media promotion. Next Level worked with members of ECA, most closely with program officer Jill Staggs and intern Holland Gormley and with Next Level alumni, who participated in various workshops and panels. NL alumni included dancer Karla “Karlita Waackafella” Flores, dancer Frankie “B-Boy Frankie” Perez, DJ 2-Tone Jones, MC Gabriel “Asheru” Benn, dancer Amirah Sackett, MC Moné “Medusa” Smith, beatmaker Glen "DiViNCi” Valencia, and dancer Jeremy “B-Boy Jeremy” Peña.

In New York City, workshops focused on conflict resolution, event planning, and developing a career in music education. In addition, a discussion on Hip-Hop and Islam was held, meetings with pioneering Hip-Hop artists were arranged, and the group went on Hip-Hop history tour of Harlem and the Bronx. The Scratch DJ Academy, managed by Next Level alum Dan “Dirty Digits” Chaves, served as base of operations.

The team is part of a Next Level international contingent of MCs, DJs, beatmakers, and Hip Hop dancers recruited from Next Level countries. See more videos of the team performing here.