Thug Life Army

The Hip-Hop Congress will host its First Ever Minnesota Summit: “Politics, Globalization and the Hip-Hop Generation” from Friday, February 17th through Sunday February 19th, 2006.

Don’t fall into the trap of assuming that Hip Hop Congress means drugs, guns, and scantily clad women. We highlight the entire Hip Hop spectrum and advocate a broader vision of Hip-Hop culture than the stereotypes often seen on TV and Radio.  Hip-Hop Congress (HHC) is an International Grassroots Network that educates, empowers, and unites individuals. We preserve and evolve Hip-Hop by inspiring social action and cultural creativity within the community.  Drawn from an evolving Black Historic and Cultural Forms, the Summit will be an opportunity to connect this modern cultural expression to Concordia’s broader programming in celebration of Black History Month.

The Summit will encourage participants to educate themselves on world and domestic issues, organize action, and recognize how hip hop culture can be used to create positive change.  It will bring together a diverse group of people who comprise this youth-driven, youth-based, and youth-inspiring community.  The goal of this year’s summit is to connect those interested in Hip Hop with education, social consciousness and community action.  Furthermore, it will raise comprehensive discussion related to the politics and the globalizing dimension that defines our world today.

Activities will feature a major concert featuring renowned Hip Hop artists and will include workshops, panels and discussion on prominent domestic and world issues related to Hip-Hop, Race, Politics, HIV/AIDS and Globalization. Each will feature prominent artists including, Proof from the World-famous group D12, Hip-Hop Activists rap artists M-1 of Dead Prez, The Bedouin and many more.  There will also be workshops teaching Graffiti Art, Breakdancing, DJ’ing, and MC’ing.  Youth organizing will be facilitated by People Escaping Poverty Project (P.E.P.P.) of Moorhead.

The Summit will be attended by interested parties from throughout Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Iowa, California, New York City, Chicago, Canada and more.

Hip Hop Congress is an organization run by active young people who understand the societal pressures of today's youth.  We use Hip-Hop to inspire social and civic action and stimulate individual creativity.  The Congress was created in 1993 to organize Hip Hop culture and pool resources and ideas into viable programs based on uplifting the greater Hip Hop community.  Since its inception, HHC has expanded around the world, making good music, good citizens and good connections across our globe.

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Hip-Hop Congress Minnesota Summit Tentative Itinerary

Friday, Feb. 17th:

5 – 10 pm:              Knutson Center        Voter/Conference Registration

7 – 9 pm:                Jones  212              Film Screening and Discussion

9 – Midnight:           Centrum                  Welcome Party w/ MC Battle

Saturday, Feb. 18th:

10 am – 11am:         Frida Nilson              Community Organizing by P.E.P.P.

11 am – 11:50am:                                 Education and Hip Hop/Poetry session

noon – 12:30 pm:     Knutson                  Lunch @ Concordia (included in Reg. Fee)

12:40 – 2:00 pm:      Panel on Native people in Hip Hop

2:15 – 3:45 pm:       Centrum                  Hip Hop Politics & Activism Panel

(“How can the Hip-Hop community take on the greatest human challenges of our day including War, HIV/AIDS, etc.?”)                   

4 pm – 6 pm:  Hip-Hop Element Workshops (DJ, MC, Graffiti, Breakdancing)

6 – 8 pm:                                             Break and Dinner on your own

8 pm - Midnight:       Centrum                  Midwest Hip Hop Jam feat. Proof of D12,

M-1 of Dead Prez, The Bedouin, Alex Schein, Kanser, Culture Shock Crew and The C.O.R.E.  ($15 w/out Reg.)

Sunday, Feb. 19th:

10 am – Noon Frida Nilson              Community Organizing by P.E.P.P.

Noon:                                                  Brunch (Bagels, etc.)

Noon – whenever:     Olson Forum             Bboy/Bgirl (Breakdancing) Event

Registration Fee for Summit: $25 (includes admission to all events, 1 meal, t-shirt, CD)

For more information visit www.hiphopcongress.com

For more information, contact:

Amer Ahmed, Summit Organizer, 218-299-3872 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Kapinga Tshiakatumba, Summit Co-coordinator

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Margie Andreason, Summit Co-coordinator

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*All venues listed are on the campus of Concordia College