Hip Hop Workshop January 2012
Wanna create your own hip-hop songs? And, have them professionally produced by an award winning Australian hip-hop artist Nick Grace?
From 23-27 January, the MJD Foundation, thanks to the Coca Cola Australia Foundation, will hold a 5-day Hip-Hop Workshop at Angurugu School, Groote Eylandt.
Nick's workshops aim to empower diverse communities of people, through the universally popular music-based medium of hip-hop.
"A hip-hop MC is basically expected to yell poetry about how excellent they are. Many hip-hop MCs also rap about problems they face, offering various solutions to the rhythm of their favourite break-beats" said Nick.
This process is fantastic for building self-esteem in participants, and helping them to positively express feelings of love, frustration, confusion and uncertainty.
MJD Foundation's Director of Research and Community Services, Libby Massey, said engaging young people affected by Machado Joseph Disease (MJD) and the broader community is vital. "Machado Joseph Disease is genetic and each child of an affected parent has a 50% chance of inheriting the disease. The most devastating part is, that, the kids will often experience symptoms earlier and in a more severe state. On Groote Eylandt there are 130 people alive today who are at risk. A lot of Warnindilyakwa kids are carers for their parents, brothers, and sisters. To provide them an outlet to explore the issues of caring, potentially inheriting the disease and other issues they face is very powerful," she said.
The MJD Foundation's film crew (Hilroy, Stevie and Ange) will also be on deck to produce accompanying film clips.
After the Workshop, each participant will receive a CD and/or DVD of their work that can then be shared with family members and the community.
Nick Grace has held over 80 hip-hop workshops, including in remote Aboriginal communities. Nick has extensive experience as a hip-hop performer and producer with multiple CD credits including Oz Hip-hop Awards for Best Solo Album 2008 and Best Track 2008; A.R.I.A. nominations; and Australian Top 10 credits (beat production and rap vocals for acts including Lazy Grey, Billy Bunks and Butterfingers).