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Fresh, Bold, & So Def (FBSD) is a women and gender research and archive project created to empower and cultivate women in Hip-Hop through a social enterprise solution’s model that is both educational and entrepreneurial. Incubated at the Hip-Hop Education Center at New York University's Metropolitan Center, the objective of FBSD is to promote positive images and motivational stories of powerful women in diverse roles and leadership positions within Hip-Hop culture through an educational platform that can be used in classrooms, libraries, museums, community centers, public forums, employment centers, and correctional facilities.
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The Ladies First! Fund is the first micro-grant dedicated to identifying and cultivating the next generation of women in Hip-Hop social entrepreneurs. As part of a national initiative developed under the Womanhood Learning project, participants create projects to address and solve issues that affect women of color, such as HIV/AIDS, homelessness, domestic violence, and illiteracy. When you purchase the Fresh, Bold, and So Def book, 20% of the proceeds goes towards the Ladies First! Fund.
2010-2011 Grantees
Vanessa Nisperos is an event producer, community organizer, and social worker from the Bay Area, now residing in Brooklyn, NY. She is the co-founder of the 5th Element, a collective of women and men dedicated to the empowerment of women through hip hop, and the founder and owner of Movement Productions.
Project
The 5th Element Project is a worldwide portal for women in Hip-Hop to get connected, find support, and amplify our impact to raise the visibility of women’s contributions to hip hop culture. We do this through strategic collaboration, support, and training for women in Hip-Hop across the U.S. and the globe.
Sheikia S. Norris, lyrically known as Purple Haze is a femcee/ generation gaper rapper who has mastered her own rich style of spitting lyrics with both power and substances. Enthusiasts of the art form appreciate her energy, her impeccable flow and a clever deliverance of truth.
Project
The Hip-Hop HerStory Project is a Hip-Hop-based course that seeks to use elements of Hip-Hop culture and expression as a tool for self-discovery, empowerment, and unity for girls and women in juvenile detention facilities and group homes in Newark, NJ. Participants will share their perspective and tell their stories with Hip Hop through Hip Hop, in their voice, HerStory told her way to and through Hip Hop!
Ana Garcia aka Rokafella is an international Hip-Hop dance Icon and singer. She has been choreographing Full Circle Production’s urban theater performances since
1996. She has been featured in various music videos and films as a B-girl, and was asked to write the introduction to Martha Cooper’s We B Girlz photo book. In 2005, she began to compile video footage from the national book tour engaging B-girls nationwide for discussions that would become the foundation for the documentary entitled, All The Ladies Say.
Project
All The Ladies Say is a 45-minute documentary that highlights the lives of six iconic female street dancers from San Jose, Atlanta, Miami and Chicago, who have carved a niche in the physically challenging, male dominated break-dance world. The film explores themes of motherhood, sexual tension, femininity versus masculinity, and the rap industry/mainstream images. International dancers not only make appearances but also add their two cents about life as a B-Girl in the Hip-Hop world.
Candice L. Custodio-Tan known as DJ Kuttin Kandi, born and raised Queens, NY, is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished female DJ’s in the world. She is also known as a Writer, Poet, Mentor, Hip Hop Advocate, Activist, Feminist and Community Organizer. She is a member of DJ team champions 5th Platoon, Founder and DJ for the all female Hip-Hop group Anomolies, Cofounder of the famed NY monthly open mic nights “Guerrilla Words” and CoFounder of the coalition R.E.A.C.Hip-Hop (Representing Education, Activism & Community through Hip Hop. Djing for over 10 years, Kandi competed in over 20 DJ competitions such as ITF and Vibe. She is the NY Source Magazine DJ Champion and has been the only female DJ to make it to the DMC USA FINALs.
Project
The Womyn’s Hip Hop Movement – A Hip Hop Feminist Anthology Album of Womyn United to End Violence Against Womyn is a mixed CD album is an anthology tribute to the womyn’s movement; and it will be themed on raising awareness and fighting against sex trafficking and violence against women and children.
