#004/06 February 1, 2006

Free Concerts sponsored by the U.S. Embassy
“Toni Blackman Hip-hop Ensemble”
Joined in Bangkok by ‘Joey Boy’

The Embassy of the United States of America proudly presents the ‘Toni Blackman Hip-hop Ensemble’. Concerts will be performed in Hat Yai, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok by artist Toni Blackman and her crew: bassist Bryon Hankins, drummer Ivan Katz, and keyboardist Jeremy Mage.

Toni Blackman, age 27, a rap lyricist, is an international champion of hip-hop culture, known for her contagious performance style. She has shared the stage with Erykah Badu, Mos Def, The Roots, Wu Tang Clan, and others.

She is not only a hip-hop performance artist: in addition to being recently honored as the best emerging artist at the D.C. Mayor's Arts Awards ceremony, she is also an activist who has committed herself to elevating the culture of hip hop. She serves as a visiting/adjunct professor at various universities, and her first book, Inner-Course, was released in 2003 (Villard/Random House). Ms. Blackman is highly respected as the founder and director of Freestyle Union, a workshop that uses free-style rapping as a tool to encourage social responsibility.

The hip-hop concerts will take place at three different venues in Thailand. Admission is free to all performances.

Thai rapper ‘Joey Boy’ will join Toni Blackman’s performance at the Center Point, Siam Square, Bangkok.

Toni Blackman and her crew will turn up the volume at the following venues:

Thursday, February 9, 19:30 hrs. Hat Yai, Songkla
Thongchan Auditorium, Faculty of Medicine
Prince SongklaUniversity.

Friday, February 10, 17:00 hrs. Chiang Mai
Promotion Area (at the aquarium), Ground Floor
Central Airport Plaza Chiang Mai

Sunday, February 12, 17:00 hrs. Bangkok
Center Point of the Siam Square

Media interested in obtaining high-resolution photos, covering the performance and/or interviewing the performers please contact Bussabonglahwan Pattaro at 02-205-4418.

Toni Blackman Hip-hop Ensemble