Hip Hop Hope is an exciting project that brings together a diverse group of youth to create a hip hop CD that challenges and inspires. The CD will get voices of youth out to the community.  We will work to get airtime on local radio stations and to find opportunities for youth to perform their work live in the community.

Who Will Be Part of It: Youth, ages 14-18, who want to make their voices heard on issues they care about. Power of Hope staff and teaching artists skilled in music making,  percussion, writing, spoken word poetry, beat boxing and more will guide the process. The staff will include hip hop and spoken word artists around the region many of whom are recording artists themselves.

How It Will Happen:  Hip Hop Hope will take place in both the U.S. and Canada in 2008.  During a five-day retreat, in an atmosphere of support, we’ll create spoken word poetry, hip hop beats and music. We will then make a CD right on the spot using a portable digital studio.

What It Will Include: The recording will include rhyming hip-hop compositions as well as spoken word poetry with musical background. We’ll address themes that are central to what Power of Hope and the best of Hip Hop is all about:

• standing up for what you believe
• learning from diversity
• respect for all people and for all life
• challenging media hyped images and ideas about what it means to be a woman or a man in today’s world
• building community
• love for the natural world
• respecting the inner life and going deep
• working for a just and peaceful world

What’s Required to Get Involved: You don’t need prior experience singing, composing or recording to be a part of this project—although experience is welcome. What you do need is the desire to speak out on issues that really matter to you and the willingness to participate in building a strong community of support that will help us all do our best work. You can be a part of this project even if you don’t want to perform. There will be lots of opportunities to contribute writing, help with the recording, and assist in keeping a positive supportive vibe going.

What You’ll Learn: At Hip Hop Hope you’ll learn how to:

• be part of a creative team

• write poetry and rhymes about real issues and inspirational ideas

• create music and beats to support powerful words

• record works using the newest digital equipment

• get your voice out in a creative way

Getting Ready: We encourage participants to get creative in the months leading up to this workshop by generating ideas and poetry to be incorporated into the project. When you come to the workshop please bring journals, musical and percussion instruments, and anything else that might inspire you.  REGISTRATION OPEN NOW! Simply print and complete the PDF form and mail it to the appropriate office with your payment.