Erich Ludwig: Calabash Staff

MULTINATIONAL UNION OF HIP-HOP ARTISTS TO LAUNCH EAST COAST TOUR
'TOUR HAILED AS A ‘UNITED NATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL HIP-HOP’
June 1, 2007, New York, NY-- This summer marks the event of the first GLOBAL UNDERGROUND HIP HOP TOUR! Hitting the East Coast July 19 through July 22nd, the Global Underground tour features international hip-hop pioneers Chosan (Sierra Leone), LF and Laylo (Brazil/Dominican Republic), Foundation Movement (Puerto Rico/Liberia), DJ Boo (Philippines) an accomplished group of percussionists including Ernesto Abreau (Antibalas/Ya Esta), Chauncey Yearwood (The Pimps of Joytime/Escort), and Nomadic Wax founder Ben Herson (Nomadic Wax/Escort/Subatomic Sound System). The tour launches at Galapagos Art Space on July 19th in Brooklyn, New York, and will visit clubs in Providence, Rhode Island on the 21st and Boston, MA on the 22nd.
"Hip-Hop culture is more than just guns, girls and glamorous lifestyles,” says Sierra Leonean/UK MC Chosan who was featured in Kanye West's 'Diamonds of Sierra Leone' video. Chosan will be performing material from his debut 'The Beautiful Side of Misery' as well as new work from his upcoming album.
Bringing politics to hip-hop is nothing new to veteran Brazilian MC Eli Efi who performed for years with Brazilian hip-hop pioneers DMN. "Hip-Hop in Brazil is almost like another political party,” says ELI EFI. "Hip Hop in Brazil is the outcry of the excluded," says Eli Efi. "Brazil sells itself as a tropical paradise, but for us it's more like a nightmare – we're here to bring about positive change." LF’s track 'Marce Soldado’ was recently featured on National Geographic's Global Hip-Hop Georemixes compilation.
Rounding out the diverse talent on this tour are Foundation Movement some special guests TBA. Based in Boston, Foundation Movement - a formidable duo whose live shows have earned them fans in Tanzania, Palestine, South Africa and Puerto Rico.
"The Global Underground tour features live percussion which sets it apart from the usual hop hop setup. The energy is massive" says label founder Ben Herson. "The way we designed this show was to make it so that there's no opening acts - everyone is on equal footing. It's just one big party from start to finish”
To get tickets, just click here .

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As a Quaker, I grew up in a culture of peace. My grandfather was a Conscientious Objector in WWII, and life long activist for peace and social justice, giving me an amazing example of the commitment needed to create lasting peace and the value of the peacemakers among us. There are many ways for each of us to bring peace into our own lives and into our communities. Many of the musicians on Calabash Music use their music to bring peace into our world, and I've put together a small selection of these artists here. Some of them are from war zones, one was a child soldier, some are calling for peace based on religious reasons, some for personal reasons. All are unified in one goal – peace. As we mark the 5th anniversary of 9-11 and as we face continuing violence in conflicts around the world, let this music sustain you in your personal quest for peace.

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The New York Times recently did a wonderful article on the music scene in Mali, West Africa. Accompanying this was a great short list compilied by Jon Pareles, chief popular music critic for the NY Times. This playlist features one song by each of those artists short listed by Jon Pareles. For more music from Mali, click here, and for more Mande Traditional Music, click here.
For more Kora music, click here and here.
And for more from Salif Keita, click here and here.

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I was recently invited to speak at the UN Global Hip Hop Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa (aka Joburg or Jozi). While there, I heard some great music and licensed some great new music for all of you to enjoy. Here are some of my favorites, and keep looking for more as the content gets added.

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