Ever since its inception, hip-hop has served as a powerful medium for the downtrodden, neglected, and forgotten to assert their voices. Grandmaster Melle Mel, KRS-One, Queen Latifah, Chuck D, Ice Cube, K’naan, Immortal Technique, and Rebel Diaz have all eloquently voiced the concerns for the masses they represent. Litefoot, a Cherokee frequently serving as the [...]

Baba Israel was raised in the hip hop rich New York of the early 80s, but also spent time living in Australia, his mother’s homeland. Early on, he became enamored with beatboxing and really honed his craft in Australia, where he collaborated with seminal Aussie hip hop artist Morganics. Back in the States, he met [...]

To those who aren’t geographically inclined, the name Greenland may conjure images of lush pastures, scenic vistas, and idyllic farming villages. WRONG! The name Greenland may be somewhat of a misnomer. There’s not much “green” at all. In fact, eighty percent of this country is covered by a ubiquitous ice sheet. The harsh climate of [...]

To say Maya Jupiter is a busy girl would be a huge understatement. She’s an emcee, a dancer, a radio host, a TV host, an educator…and the list goes on and on. Since we’re focusing on Australia this week, I chose to highlight Maya Jupiter because of her central role in the Aussie hip hop [...]

In our global age, does it behoove MCs to study their art in different cities around the world? Well, it did in the case of Delta, the Australian born MC who spent time living abroad in London and Brooklyn. “I think the most important lesson I learned [living abroad] is to treat people as they [...]

Artists Gather From Around the World to Make a Difference Through Hip-Hop Hartford, Connecticut, March 1, 2008 – Hip hop garnered a lion’s share of negative publicity in 2007 – DJ Drama was arrested for selling mixtapes, Don Imus pointed a finger at hip hop’s misogyny and T.I. was arrested on gun charges – spawning [...]