Star Persons Releases First Single

March 6th, 2010 | By 608

EXCITING NEW ELECTRO-HIP-POP BAND RELEASES FIRST SINGLE “SUPERNOVA” B/W “BANANA BANG”, PLAYS PREMIER CONCERT

Star Persons is a six person, fully electronic pop band that combines catchy hooks and dance rhythms with futuristic soundscapes and thoughtful lyrics to create a sound that is fun, fresh, and fascinating. Their first single “Supernova”, which captures the essence of their style, was released in early February as a free download from their website (www.starpersons.net) along with “Banana Bang”. Both tracks will be on the upcoming Star Persons album, “Just Visiting”, due out later this year.

Though the band is Continue Reading

6 Wisconsin Youth Poetry Slam Finalists Headed to Los Angeles

March 4th, 2010 | By 608

Wisconsin Teen Poetry Slam Team Selected and Ready to go National

The six top-scoring competitors from last week’s Wisconsin Youth Poetry Slam Team finales are gearing up to compete at the Brave New Voices spoken word international competition in Los Angeles in July. Brave New Voices is a one-of-a-kind arts festival presented by Youth Speaks, the leading nonprofit presenter of Spoken Word performance, education, and youth development programs in the country.

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The Dynamic Duo

March 4th, 2010 | By Erin Eagan

Ballin’with Madison East Standouts Nimrod Hilliard IV and Marquis Mason

In early February, Madison East standout Marquis Mason signed his letter of intent to play wide receiver for the Wisconsin Badgers. But before he hits the Camp Randall gridiron, he and basketball teammate Nimrod Hilliard IV have some business to take care of on the hardwood.

The inside-out combo of Marquis Mason and Nimrod Hilliard IV are tearin’ it up this season. With those two leading the way, the Purgolders were ranked top five in the State all season and finished tied for first in the Big Eight standings. With March Madness finally upon us, their focus is to finish the season strong as they roll into post-season play with a head of steam. It’s been 20 years since Continue Reading

New School vs. Old School

February 28th, 2010 | By Rumont

How Can We Bridge the Gap?

While much of Black History Month has focused on the past (Old School generation), maybe it should focus a little more on the Black history that’s currently being shaped by the (New School) Hip-Hop generation. As its members enter our nation’s universities, the halls of corporate America and government positions, the Hip-Hop generation has the opportunity to make a positive impact in the Black community for generations to come.

It is no secret that the passing of the torch has caused friction and the creation of a visible generation gap within the African- American community. This gap can be seen in the differences that the Hip-Hop generation has with its elders Continue Reading

First Wave heads to Contacting the World 2010

February 25th, 2010 | By 608

UW-Madison’s First Wave wins international performance berth

The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s First Wave hip hop theater ensemble has been selected to participate in Contacting the World 2010, an international theater project linking young people’s theater groups from around the world in the spirit of creating theater across boundaries of geography and culture.

First Wave, the performance troupe of the UW-Madison Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI), is the only theater group selected from the United States to participate in the award-winning international collaboration, which Continue Reading