AIT Brings U.S. Hip Hop Ambassador to Taiwan for Two Free Performances

PR0609E | Date: 2006-02-14

The American Institute in Taiwan Public Affairs Section is pleased to host two performances and one discussion, all free of charge, by The U.S. Hip Hop Ambassador -- Toni Blackman and her Hip Hop Ensemble.  This program is arranged under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State in cooperation with the Jazz at Lincoln Center: American Music Abroad program.  Taiwan is last leg of the group's Asia tour, which also includes stops in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.

"AIT is bringing the American Hip Hop Ambassador here to provide our Taiwan friends a sample of modern day American Hip Hop Culture," said Nicholas Papp, Director of AIT's American Cultural Center.  "Hip Hop has also become the great cultural bridge for widely different groups to communicate across race, class, region, language and national divides," he added.

Members of the group include Toni Blackman (rap lyricist), Bryon Hankins (bass), Jeremy Mage (keyboard) and Ivan Katz (drums).  Program details are as follows:

Concerts

Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. Location: The Metropolitan Hall, Taipei

Date: Thursday, February 16, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. Location: Sun Yat-sen Hall of the National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung

Discussion

Topic: "Poetry, Spoken Word, and the Literary Arts in Hip Hop Culture" Date: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 at 3:30 p.m. Location: The Metropolitan Hall 4th Floor Conference Room, Taipei

The Taipei concert is organized by the AIT Public Affairs Section, co-organized by the Department of Cultural Affairs of the Taipei City Government with assistance from the Taipei Cultural Center.  The Kaohsiung concert is presented by AIT Kaohsiung Branch Office with assistance from the Sun Yat-sen America Center of the National Sun Yat-sen University.

Please visit the AIT website http://www.ait.org.tw/events/HipHop2006/ for more information about these free performances.