PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Contact: Charmaine Minniefield

Media@PraiseHouseProject.org

404-202-2271 direct

Internationally renowned hip-hop artist Toni Blackman is hosted by the Praise House Project in Atlanta for a 30 day artist residency as a part of its ongoing community-based programming leading up to the opening of the next Praise House at Emory University. The residency will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop and offer a free public performance event during Elevate Atlanta, the city's public art festival on October 8th at the Hammonds House Museum.   

Based in both Brooklyn, New York and Dakar Senegal, Blackman is joined by Senegalese hip-hop artists, Bideew Bou Bess, made up of brothers Moctar Sall, Baidy Sall and Ibrahima Sall who will mix traditional Senegalese music, world music and hip-hop to demonstrate its worldwide impact, the emcee as the griot and the cypher as an iteration of the Ring Shout. Knox Boomin, 17 year-old hip-hop artist mentored by Blackman, will join the collaboration and perform alongside the trio hailing from his father’s homeland of Senegal. The evening is presented in partnership with Music in the Park in Atlanta’s historic West End. 
This cultural exchange project is presented by the Praise House Project through funds provided by the Atlanta Global Research and Education Collaborative (AGREC), the City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs and Villa Albertine in Atlanta with the French Consulate, The Imlay Foundation, The Georgia Pacific Foundation, The Wish Foundation, the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta, and the Center for Cultural Power. Community partners include Emory University, Spelman College and the Historic District Development Corporation (HDDC).

THE RETURN WITH TONI BLACKMAN AND BIDEEW BOU BESS

October 8th, 4-6pm Hammonds House Museum

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of hip-hop, the Praise House Project presents internationally renowned emcee, Toni Blackman, joined by Senegalese hip-hop artists, Bideew Bou Bess, made up of brothers Moctar Sall, Baidy Sall and Ibrahima Sall for a special front porch performance during Elevate Atlanta at Hammonds House Museum in partnership with Music in the Park. Blackman and Bideew Bou Bess will mix traditional Senegalese music, world music and hip-hop to demonstrate its worldwide impact and cultural origins, the emcee as the griot and the cypher as an iteration of the Ring Shout.

Toni Blackman and Bideew Bou Bess serve as inaugural New Freedom Artists-in-residence, engaging audiences and the Atlanta arts community from September 29 - October 29. 

This cultural exchange is presented by the Praise House Project through funds provided by the Atlanta Global Research and Education Collaborative (AGREC), the City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs and Villa Albertine in Atlanta with the French Consulate, The Imlay Foundation, The Georgia Pacific Foundation, The Wish Foundation, the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta, and the Center for Cultural Power. Community partners include, Emory University, Spelman College and the Historic District Development Corporation (HDDC)

THE BEAT - A Ring Shout and Community Freestyle Cypher with Toni Blackman

Saturday, October 14th, 4-6pm

Cypher: Glenn Memorial Church, Fellowship Hall

Parking: Fishburne Parking Deck

Toni Blackman will acknowledge the worldwide impact and cultural origins of hip-hop and demonstrate how the emcee is the griot (storyteller as memory keeper) and the cypher as an iteration of the Ring Shout.