NYU Workshops

We enter a large lecture room in the NYU campus. In it are close to a hundred teenage students. They're there for a leadership day as part of the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education program. We load up, connect and test the turntables. They're having lunch and either have not noticed us or aren't interested. DJ H2O begins to spin and heads throughout the room start to bop. Hands start to sway above young minds and rhythmic words are repeated. Rapport has been built.

The group breaks into two and our first hour long workshop begins. Laughter, focus and knowledge fill the room leading into an autograph signing, networking & individual motivational speaking session. As the first group leaves the second group enters with as much suspicion as the first. Ten minutes later young faces with today's "too cool" pose have dwindled making room for the laughter and smiles that now pervade. This workshop ends and conversations with youth dealing with the same (or similar) difficulties we once dealt with continue. The Youth Workers thank us, a few Youth tell us it's "the best workshop they've ever been in", and photos are taken.

So goes another day on the Day Before Sound Tour. A tour filled with music, experience, and the credo we live by...Learn, Educate, Repeat.
Learn, Educate, Repeat!

For booking info e-mail us at...
booking@debeforerecords.com

For more info on The Day Before Sound Tour, our workshops or performances
e-mail us at...
readnex@debeforerecords.com

Biz Markie w DJ H20 @ WMC

Learn, Educate, Repeat!

For booking info e-mail us at...
booking@debeforerecords.com

For more info on The Day Before Sound Tour, our workshops or performances
e-mail us at...
readnex@debeforerecords.com

WMC, Biz Markie, Sleeping in the Sand and DJ H2OOooooo!

WoW!!! Miami is like a different world. In a good sandy and warm kind of way. We had an AMAZING time enjoying the weather, napping on South Beach, performing, supporting and watching DJ H20 compete/spin (he rocked Miami crowds each time and even got the party going at a few different venues), connected with some great new and old friends (big up to Jocelyn of Fusicology, Amon from BK and Desiree the poet extraordinaire from West Palm) and danced til the souls of our sneakers wore out (seriously though). We even met and chatted it up with Biz Markie, Lil Jon, & Naughty by Nature among others...Lil Jon...very different without sunglasses lol.

DJ H2O competed in 2 distinct competitions at the 25th Annual Winter Music Conference. Though he didn't make top 3 he rocked the crowds and made plenty of connections with DJ's from all over the planet. He also got plenty of ideas and will soon be spinning even more of his usual "Fuego" for crowds all over.

While in the area we drove to & performed at RJ's in West Palm Beach. Oooeee...the love we got from the beautiful people there is unforgettable. DJ H2O's sets were CRAZY and Latin had the audience hysterical with some impromptu Stand Up comedy. We always make sure our performances have a diverse mixture ensuring that audiences are edu-tained.

A few final steps on the board walk, some final tastes of Floridian Cuban food, a couple last dance moves and we're on route home. "Here we go!"...or as Floridians would say "Here we go!"...cause they're not that different.
Learn, Educate, Repeat!

For booking info e-mail us at...
booking@debeforerecords.com

For more info on The Day Before Sound Tour, our workshops or performances
e-mail us at...
readnex@debeforerecords.com

View from WMC rooftop pool party!

Learn, Educate, Repeat!

For booking info e-mail us at...
booking@debeforerecords.com

For more info on The Day Before Sound Tour, our workshops or performances
e-mail us at...
readnex@debeforerecords.com

Welcome to MIAMI!

We've made it to the land that the indigenous called Miami. Though I'm pretty sure it looks a lot different than it looked when they named it...it's still preeeetyyyy coool!


DJ H20 competed today in his first of two very intense competitions at the 25th Annual Winter Music Conference. The art displayed today was that of blending and tomorrow it'll be all about scratching. Though he did not qualify in today's top 3 he was by far one of the most impressive competitors to leave his mark in the judges ears. We did a lot of networking and even reconnected with a few as well (including the revolutionary and talented DJ Chela).


The journey to get here (all the way from NY) was a long, fun and fruitful one. We left NY soon after a professional development workshop in Queens. There we again taught how to use Hip Hop and Poetry in after school programming and both inspired and empowered a group of young youth workers. A few days later In Frederiksburg, VA we ate at the beautiful and recently opened La Palmas Cafe. This Puerto Rican restaurant is the only one of it's kind in an area that still has a slave auction block memorialized a block down. After eating there and chatting it up with the owners we performed a night of Poetry and Salsa. Despues de our performance DJ H2O spun the Salsa party and we gave some Salsa lessons throughout the night. When the last leg was moved and body twirled we rested up and drove further South ending up in Charleston, South Carolina.


There we linked up with some people at a not-for profit artist space called "Outer Space". We didn't expect to perform that night either but ended up having a lively audience to rock for a cappella style. The crowd was hyped to hear a cappella versions of our tracks (we just clapped and beatboxed it out) and once again many uttered "We wish ya could be here more often...this town needs ya." Always good to hear that what one does is needed by the people.


Learn, Educate, Repeat!

For booking info e-mail us at...
booking@debeforerecords.com

For more info on The Day Before Sound Tour, our workshops or performances
e-mail us at...
readnex@debeforerecords.com

Flat Tire and Jarabe Singing to AAA Guy!

Learn, Educate, Repeat!

For booking info e-mail us at...
booking@debeforerecords.com

For more info on The Day Before Sound Tour, our workshops or performances
e-mail us at...
readnex@debeforerecords.com

Original Poem by one of our Minnesota students

The following poem was written by a student of ours from the Minnesota workshop series we presented a few weeks ago.

... I had a really bad day, so I wrote.

[-Zach]

Scratching these walls of sorrow

it'll never free my mind

in a hell of emotions

forever tortured

by hours of thoughts

never to let up

My hope trickling down,

down the drain

it'll be the end of me

this drain leading

to the wasteland of loss

I lost the chance

to turn things around

and I am paying for it

not a punishment

a storm of guilt

I see my actions

they impulsively destroy

with the rage

of deprivation

that always deploys

Like a man

to choose between

pain and suffering

or the easy way out

but he already knows

what choice he has to make

It is obvious that

my pain is better

than causing pain

I know i have to live

with the burden i was given

God had nothing

to do with this gift

it was pure chance

one out of six thousand

and I was the lucky winner

The oblivious thrust of rage

was put into the walls,

the walls of decision

and that decision

was built to create guilt

I can not believe

that i considered it

casting myself into death's arms

for him

to take me away

but the thought of others

saved my life

My selfish tantrum has shown

that self control

was ignored

and ruthlessly beaten

and killed

If there was a way

to rewrite yesterday

then I would take it

but what am I thinking

that could never happen

I must face

that I

had already carved the marble

I can only accept

the past as how

it was written

I have been taught

by a god in my eyes

that my only hope

to cope with this

hard time

is Poetry

by, Zach Patnoe

Posted with permission

Thank You Minnesota & Massachusetts!

"This has been a breath of fresh air... I wish we could take this workshop at the beginning of every week"-Youth Worker (from our recent Professional Development workshop in Worcester, MA).


We're currently back in NY after 2 weeks of facilitating workshops, enjoying the beauty of Minnesota and learning from its people. Places like Echo, Bird Island, Buffalo Lake, Eden Valley and more had members of The Day Before Sound Tour come through. Focuses included diversity training, emotional expression, history of Hip Hop, and how to use Hip Hop and Poetry in the class room. We had an amazing time and enjoyed exchanging knowledge with the people of Minnesota. Much love to the people of Minnesota (especially it's Youth), Pact 4 and 21st CCLC.


We recently facilitated a Professional Development Workshop in Worcester, MA for the wonderful people at 21st CCLC. We had a wonderfully entertaining time working with everyone there at Holy Cross College and are glad that many of you experienced new ways of working with your Youth and Staff. Thank you for your feedback, e-mails, and participation.


We make our workshops as fun as possible for both the Youth and Professionals we work with. We're all about "edu-tainment". Entertaining while we directly and indirectly educate others. All the while we learn from each group we work with ensuring that we continue the process of "Learn, Educate, Repeat!






Learn, Educate, Repeat!

Writing & Minneapolis!

Center-The amazingly talented B. Fresh during a ReadNex Poetry Squad photo shoot at the Mall of America. Don't know why DJ H2O looks so sad though lol.

Top Left- Latin working with a Youth and guiding him through writing his thoughts & emotions.

Bottom Right-Free & Decora outside the Day Before Sound Tour Van at the Mall of America. It's all about teamwork!

Working with Youth...Always Fun!

Bottom Left- Children writing poetry in MN during an after school workshop. Check out the attention they're giving to their pages.

Top Right-Jarabe guiding the youth through emotional expression exercises to help them be mentally available.

Minnesota!!!

We've spent the past two weeks facilitating after school workshops for youth of Mid-Western Minnesota middle and high schools. In the process children have laughed learned and moved us with their candid poems. After yesterday's workshop a teacher told us "[she] nearly cried when the children wanted to keep writing" after the workshop had ended. The eyes of children that have not been exposed to many cultural experiences lighting up with the joy of knowledge is something we've been cultivating these past few weeks. We still have a few more in the area and are excited to do the thing.

In addition to the workshops we performed at "Eclipse Records" in St. Paul. St. Paul is one of Minnesota's Twin Cities and there we rocked a crowd that was by no means prepared lol. A bunch of them approached us after our set and one of them even thanked us for "bringing life and energy to St. Paul".

Prior to that we had a photo shoot with the very talented B. Fresh at the Mall of America in Minneapolis. This woman knows what she is doing when it comes to capturing an image. We had a great time and got some great shots out of it as well. Check her out at www.bfreshphotography.com

Ok, ok...more photos coming soon I get it sheesh.

Having Fun & Building Hope...

Left- ReadNex Poetry Squad having a good time with the new single "Be Different" on stage at Project Lodge in Madison, WI.







Right- Jarabe Del Sol and DJ H2O rocking the crowd with new track "Philosophia Musical" at Reggie's
in Chi-Town.

Bottom Left- Decora in front of the barred windows of Dane County Juvenile Detention Center...right before our workshop with their temporarily detained youth. We focused on hope and empowerment and working towards dreams. As we left the glimmers of new found hope could be clearly seen in their eyes

All about the people "la gente"

Left-Free showing love to the fans.

At the beginning and end of the day

it's all about the people.

Top Right- Latin creating love with mic and sound for the people of Reggie's in Chi-Town. This show was amazing!!! This tour all about rocking crowds and working with Youth/Youth Workers...it's just how we do.

Bottom Left-After our workshop with the youth of el Centro Hispano in Madison, Wisconsin. Here we focused on "building self to help build community".

Detained Youth and Smiles

You want to know what we've been up to...don't you. You're saying to yourself..."I wanna see some pics!". Well let me tell you...it's been amazing...and the pics are on the way.

We're currently leaving Madison, Wisconsin after spending 2 days here and driving in from Chicago. While there we rocked a spot called "Reggie's" and the crowd was off the chain. We even decided to stand on a few chairs while in the crowd...the energy was just right.

Though we were in Madison, WI for merely 2 days we empowered many. The first group was at el "Centro Hispano." There we worked with more than 30 youth (even some adults) and focused on methods of change in their communities. Many of them knew English as a second language but once again we demonstrated that hope and can love transcend linguistic boundaries. It also helped that most of us in the group are bilingual. In the end the youth could be seen smiling, laughing and walking with an air of empowerment. This after having learned new techniques to vent their thoughts and emotions. They also learned a few public speaking skills, the importance of history and more. After this workshop we headed to the "Dane County Juvenile Detention Center." Our hearts sank when we saw the cells these young teens had to spend much of their time in. Our love for poetry and education poured out through our words and turned parts of the workshop into a motivational powerhouse. The same youth (both boys and girls because the county can't afford to separate them) that greeted us with glares and distrust shook our hands, spoke eloquently, thanked us and smiled as all youth should. Not only were their minds filled with motivation and hope...our souls were filled with love and re-assurance of how important our work really is.

Last night we performed for an intimate crowd at "Project Lodge" and got to have a conversation with the audience. One audience member had been our waitress at the Weary Traveler (GREAT FOOD) the night before. We got to talk about the tour, our experiences in Madison, life in NY and other topics that arose from our pieces. We ended with an acappella version (technically as the sound was low and we spoke without mics) of our single and wrapped it all up with one of the funnest and entertaining freestyle sessions we've ever performed. I know...I know...just fly out if you're too far and check us out next time lol.

Leaving Chi-Town!

Last night we performed at a real cool venue in Chicago, IL. The venue was called Reggie's and we rocked the crowd there as well. I say as well because 15 minutes before we hit up an open mic at a High School and did a few poems along with our latest single "Be Different". Don't woooorrryy...it'll be released soon. We had the entire auditorium of youth chanting the chorus of the track. BE DIFFERENT!

Afterwards, Latin spoke to the youth about being themselves and following their dreams. It was a beautiful moment as we walked out of the auditorium while the children chanted our chorus again. In all of their eyes we saw a bit of us. We once sat and dreamt as others paved the way. Now we're truly blessed to be laying a foundation for our "young leaders of tomorrow". The next generation of pavers.

Hospitality

Last night we rocked for a great crowd at The Shadow Lounge in Pittsburgh, PA. The energy flowing from our microphones was fitting considering Valentines Day. All of the love seemed to be channeled into the performance. Not only did we have fun the crowd had a ball even repeating some of our choruses with us. People at the venue and even the venue's owner mentioned that they'd "unfortunately never seen anything like us" in the area before.

Prior to that one we'd performed at SUNY Dutchess for the beautiful students of the Poughkeepsie, NY college. Immediately after we drove back up to Troy, NY to facilitate a youth workshop and dance party for the youth at WK Doyle Middle School. Ohhh yeaah. Before all of this we rocked with the amazing "Dirty Little Boogie Band" up at Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs. These guys were wild! We had an hour long set and then performed along with them for about 4 hours straight! Break Dancing, spitting Poetry/Hip Hop, even singing at times. Wooweee! What a tour...

Right Brooklyn

Philharmonic Smart Arts

Program learning

how human brains works &

how to brainstorm

Above

El Puente Academy Youth
reading original

poetic piece

Above

WK Doyle Middle School 21St Century Program Youth writing about their emotions

Left

Brooklyn Philharmonic

Smart Arts Program Youth

engaged in expressive movement

Top Left Skidmore College Students

after ReadNex Poetry Squad Performance

Top Right El Puente Academy Learning

Turntabalism "Art of the DJ"

Working With Youth is a Blessing and Reinvigorating

The first few days of this tour have been amazing! We've traveled, worked on empowering youth and teaching them how to use Hip Hop and Poetry as a medium of expression, had some amazing performances and met some really cool Youth. Check out the photos above. Their smiles say it all.

The photo to the right is the first of a section titled Good Eats. We'll be letting you know where the good food is and isn't. This one is from a great restaurant in Troy, NY. called

Ali Baba. The place was clean, service was great and the food was delicious. We've been here a couple times before and enjoy ourselves everytime. Be sure to look them up if you're ever in the NY Captial Region.

Great Start!

The past few days of the tour have been "off the chain"
(really good). We started it off by joining Mahina Movement, Ollin Imagination and Las Gallas in a creativity workshop (Thank You Mahina Movement for hosting the workshop, space and delicious comida). The goal of this workshop was to develop ideas for our performance at El Museo Del Barrio on April 17th. This one is going to be truly inspiring & have you glued to your seat...but how could it not be considering the lineup. Afterwards we headed up to Troy (NY Capital Region) to facilitate some youth workshops. For 2 days we worked with 2 different groups of youth. The reaction was wonderful. The Youth were having a blast & at the same time learned new ways to use their emotions. At the end of the workshop one of the Youth gave a paper clip to Jarabe and when Jarabe asked him what it was the boy said "whatever you make it to be"...Deeeep. On the first night of being in Troy we did our thing at an Open Mic in Albany. While there we revitalized the audience with performances and connected with a few of the night's artists. After 2 days of workshops and a performance we facilitated another workshop for the lively teens of El Puente Leadership Center in Brooklyn, NY. By the end of it we had the Youth sharing their poetic creations with pride and confidence in their eyes. All of this and week one isn't even over yet.