Voting Begins in Berklee/Essence Hip-Hop Contest
Five songwriters will receive Berklee scholarships; Yo-Yo, Pete Rock, Roxanne Shante among judges April 8, 2008
Essence's Take Back the Music campaign and Berklee have narrowed the search for the newest voices in hip-hop as 10 teens from all over the United States advance as finalists in the third Berklee/Essence Take Back the Music Hip-Hop Songwriting Contest. The finalists' songs are now available for listening at essence.com/takebackthemusic. The public is invited to vote on their favorite in an online poll. More than 45 unsigned musicians, producers, and songwriters between the ages of 15 and 19 entered the contest. Five winners, to be announced later this month, will receive summer music education at no cost from Berklee and Berkleemusic.com. Three of the winners will also perform at the 2008 Peace Hip-Hop Festival at Boston's City Hall Plaza, August 2.
The 10 finalists are:
Winners will be selected by a panel of hip-hop celebrity judges—Yo-Yo, Pete Rock, and Roxanne Shante—and four Berklee judges: Prince Charles Alexander (music production and engineering); Pat Pattison (songwriting), Mike Hamilton (music production, Berkleemusic.com), and Da'Raya Wilson (student and 2006 contest winner). Judging will be based on innovative lyrics that convey a positive message, as well as melody and composition.
The following prizes will be awarded:
- Grand Prize: Two winners will be admitted into the 2008 Berklee Five-Week Summer Performance Program and receive a full scholarship, including tuition and room and board (each valued at $6,930);
- Second Place: One winner will receive a tuition-only scholarship (Valued at $4,130);
- Runners-Up: Two runners-up will each receive one online music course at Berkleemusic.com (Valued between $695 and $1,195).
For editorial information or digital photos, the media may contact:
Allen Bush
Office of Public Information
617 747-2658
abush@berklee.edu
Sheila Harris
Essence
212 522-1089
Ra'Chelle Rogers
Essence
212 522-2724
Related Links
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Wellesley High School student finishes Top 10 in nationwide songwriting contest (Wellesley Townsman, June 26, 2008)
- Sanford student runner up in national hip-hop contest (Lakes Region Weekly, May 21, 2008)
- Brockton Teen Hits Right Notes (Brockton Enterprise, May 12, 2008)
- Rapper Wins Again (Boston Globe South, May 8, 2008)
- Lehigh Count teen wins in songwriting contest (The Mornng Call, April 24, 2008)
- A Bad Rap (Harvard Crimson, April 24, 2008)
- Big Shoes to Fill in Songwriting Contest (Friendswood Journal, April 22, 2008)
- Detroiter in hip-hop finals (Detroit Free Press, April 9, 2008)
- Hip-hop contest seeks positive messages (Boston People's Voice, February 1, 2008)
- Local Teen Performs in Hip-Hop Festival (Community News, August 15, 2007)
- With Positive Message, Local Rapper Wins Essence Contest (The New Jersey Sentinel, May 23, 2007)
- Phantom, a Lodi Teen, Gains Attention in Hip-Hop Contest (North Jersey Herald News, April 27, 2007)
- Got wholesome hip-hop? (The St. Louis American, February 28, 2007)
- Seeking Talented Teens (Boston Globe, February 8, 2007)
- Teen rapper's New Song Wins Nationwide Contest (Columbus Dispatch, May 5, 2006)
- A New Star is Born in Brockton (The Enterprise, May 5, 2006)
- Taking Back "My Hump" (Inside Higher Education, January 31, 2006)
- Aiming for an Alternative Hip-Hop (Boston Globe, January 30, 2006)
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