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January 31, 2007

ULM kicks off Black History Month with Hip Hop 101

ULM students will learn about Hip-Hop culture and even record a Hip-Hop song with Little Egypt during a free workshop Tuesday, Feb. 6, from 7 – 9 p.m. in Brown Auditorium. “Hip-Hop 101” is a historical chronology of hip-hop music and culture, with focus on the technical production of a Hip-Hop single.

During the upcoming workshop, students will write their own songs, which will be added to beats, rhythms, and music. Those songs will eventually be recorded on a CD that will be available to ULM students.

The founder of Little Egypt, Joe Steele, of Brooklyn, N.Y. says, “The beats are not like the typical mainstream beats. They make your head bop but allow you to slip into a meditation type state.”

“Black History is very important to us and it is important to realize that what you do today will be future history for your grandchildren’s children,” says Joe Steele, whose stage name is Visual Poetics.

Little Egypt has gained notoriety by performing for crowds in Europe, Canada, Poland, Mexico, Brazil, the World Music Festival and opening for legends like Fat Joe, Jurassic5, and Mos Def.

According to their Web site, “Little Egypt is taking hip-hop out of the gangs, violence, and misogyny and returning to traditional story telling, artistic expression and a positive message with hip-hop urban rhythms and timeless ethnic melodies.” The group focuses on the younger generation and providing them with clean, positive lyrics.

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