Turkey
Residency Recap
From October 6 to October 21, 2018, Hip Hop artists Melanie Aguirre (Dancer), Kevin “DJ Kevie-Kev Rockwell” Carson (DJ), Lance “LJ…Art” Johnson (Aerosol Artist), Corey “Corey James Gray” Lima (MC), and site manager JaciCaprice traveled to Ankara and Istanbul, Turkey as part of the Next Level program. The artists offered workshops in emceeing/rapping, DJing, dancing, and aerosol art in partnership with Ankara’s CerModern Arts Center, a modern art institute committed to public engagement. Next Level’s Turkey residency included several cultural exchange activities, including a studio session with Ankara-based DJ Suppa, a collaborative recording session at Studio Tunali with noted Turkish Hip-Hop artist Evren Besta, several outreach and community events, and the creation of an “Inspiration Wall,” which is now on permanent display at the Turkish-American Association.
The Next Level Academy’s final concert featured performances by the artist-educators and their student-collaborators. Approximately 300 community members attended the performance, along with Ambassador John Bass, the National News (NTV), and other local media outlets. Next Level’s Team Turkey is part of a larger cohort of American MCs, DJs, beatmakers, and Hip Hop dancers seeking to build global community through Hip Hop culture.
