Paper version of my article on the “Jeddah Hip Hop Jam” event that featured German Rapper and Producer Max Herre and Saudi Rapper ‘Qusai’ accompanied by Saudi hip-hop crews “J-FAM” and “Run Junction.”

1. 4
KINGDOM
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2013
German, Saudi rappers
spread ‘Jeddah Love’
and ‘Hip-Hop passion’
By Roberta Fedele
Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — Hip-hop passion
swept Jeddah for a night as German and Saudi rappers turned in
a mind-blowing performance at
the residence of German Consul
General Rolf Theodor Schuster on
Wednesday (January 30).
Organized by the German Consulate General in cooperation with
Universal Legends Entertainment,
this cross-cultural “Jeddah Hip
Hop Jam” event featured renowned
German Singer and Producer Max
Herre and Saudi Rapper ‘Qusai’ or
“QUSAI aka Don Legend the Kamelion” accompanied by promising local hip-hop crews “J-FAM”
and “Run Junction.”
A wide range of emotions, a
common concern for the latest
socio-political developments in
the region and original themes associated to the Arabic and Muslim
culture were channeled through
the artists’ musical pieces.
Apart from allowing a deeper
understanding of the German hiphop tradition, somewhat influenced
by the Middle East’s political scenario, the concert represented a
rare opportunity to acknowledge
Saudi artists’ unexpected level of
maturity and capacity to mirror
their specific socio-cultural context without proposing stereotypical hip-hop leitmotifs.
Live performances were preceded by a three-day workshop
involving around 60 local young
rappers and producers. These
artists had the unique chance to
personally meet each other and
share experiences with prominent
singers like Herre and Qusai, the
Saudi professional rapper, who cohosted MTV Arabia’s Hip Hop Na
music competition in 2007, hosted
the two latest editions of Arabs
Got Talent and won the epithet of
Middle East’s Hip-Hop Ambassador.
The context of the workshop
brought about an exceptional cooperation between Qusai, Herre’
and J-FAM who recorded a song
that was released in exclusive preview during the concert.
Energy filled the stage with a
great opening by Run Junction and
J-FAM, two Jeddah-based crews
who paid a beautiful musical tribute to Jeddah and created the right
atmosphere to welcome on stage
Herre, a singer boasting 20 years
experience in the German hip-hop
scene.
After rising to fame in the 90s
as a member of the group Freundeskreis, Herre climbed German
and Swiss charts in 2012 with his
album “Halo Welt” (Hello World)
German Deputy Consul General Ulrich Maier, center, posing in a group picture with the various hip-hop singers and
crews who took part in a 3-day hip-hop workshop and live concert at the residence of German Consul General Rolf
Theodor Schuster. — Courtesy photos
German Rapper and Producer Max Herre, left, and Saudi Rapper Qusai Kheder
discussing a point during a visit to Naseef House in Balad district.
Young local rappers and producers who got a unique oppurtunity to personally
meet each other, share experiences and work together at the workshop.
and presented in Jeddah some of
his most famous pieces including
“Aufruhr” (Freedom Time), a song
that he conceived in the climate of
the Arab Spring.
Herre said: “I find inspiration
in personal experiences and the society that surrounds me. The social
consciousness demonstrated in
these years by young Arab citizens
who took action to defend their
rights was a great stimulus for my
creativity.
“My music finds its root in the
hip-hop but also embraces elements of reggae, soul, funk, indie
and jazz. I like to experiment and I
truly believe that music is an ideal
tool to channel one’s emotions.
Unfortunately, I still perceive
sometimes a sort of prejudice and
stereotype surrounding the hiphop. This musical genre is too of-
German Rapper and Producer Max Herre, left, Saudi Rapper Qusai Kheder, center, and J-FAM crew performing a song
that they recorded together and was released in an exclusive preview during the concert on Wednesday.
I find inspiration in personal experiences and the
society that surrounds me. The social consciousness
demonstrated in these years by young Arab citizens
who took action to defend their rights was a great
stimulus for my creativity.
Max Herre
German Singer and Producer
ten labeled as aggressive without
any knowledge of its roots, lyrical
power and positive vibrations.”
Herre, who was also hosted by
Big Hass’s hip-hop radio show on
Mix FM KSA, was impressed by
the potential and variety expressed
by the regional hip-hop scene and
encouraged Saudi rappers to come
out with their original stories.
He said: “I always tell young
talents to talk about their lives and
experiences exploiting the lyrical
potentialities of their native language instead of imitating American rappers. Another determining
factor concerns interaction. Before competing it is important to
be united through a common networking platform. It’s fundamental to go on the Internet, search for
other rap crews from the region,
country or town and exploit any
networking occasion.”
After Herre, the 34-yearsold Saudi star Qusai entertained
a crowd of enthusiastic fans interpreting some of his most celebrated hits in English and Arabic.
Particularly touching were his interpretations of “Mother,” a poetic
homage to women and “Change,”
a song from his 2012 album “The
Inevitable Change” referring to
the period of the Arab Spring or
the real “New Millennium,” as he
calls it.
Qusai, who uses his words and
the microphone to exalt his own
Muslim and Arabic culture and to
give voice to the aspirations of his
generation, explained the concept
behind his third and latest album
during a recent and beautiful interview for the famous American
Magazine Rolling Stones.
“I believe the millennium is
the true change that started in 2011
when my Arabic people woke up
and started to express themselves.
And change is certain: It happened, it’s happening, and it will
happen. It’s inevitable.”
■ Related picture on P20
Hariharan, Linjawi, Shaikh & Alharby top in TI Area 11 contest
By Sana Abdul Salam
Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — The clubs of Area 11
in Toastmasters International (TI)
came together at the Village Restaurant to conduct an area level
contest on Wednesday. Participating were the Tanglaw Club, Effat
University Club and the Bahaghari
Advanced Club.
The different categories for
participation were humor speech,
table topics, international speech
and speech evaluation.
Harry Hariharan from the Bahaghari Advanced Club won the
first place in the humor speech
segment. Afnan Linjawi, from Effat University Club, won second
place. Contestants in this category
were required to give a speech
that had an element of humor and
could also possibly convey an important message.
Anbreen Shaikh from Effat
University Club won the first place
for table topics, while Hariharan
won second place. Table topics
required an impromptu response
from participants, who are presented with a question on the spot.
The first place for speech
evaluation was won by Aiman Alharby from the Tanglaw Club, and
second place was won by Karima
Khandaker from Effat University
Club. Speech evaluation required
contestants to evaluate the speech
of a guest speaker by judging it
based on strengths and weaknesses. They were also to suggest
points for improvements.
Adel Radwan from the Tanglaw Club won first place in the
international speech category,
while Reema Barqawi from the
Effat University Club came second.
The Area 11 contest participants and officers. (Below) The 2012-2013 Area 11 officers. From left: Andrea Taguibao, Treasurer; Gina Casino, Assistant Area 11 Governor- Education & Training; Reema Barqawi, Assistant Area 11 Governor- Marketing; Shadi abil Alji, Secretary; Noriza Guerra, Area 11 Governor. — Courtesy photos
■■
The winners in each category
will move on to the division level
contest to be held in March at
the Effat University’s campus.
Subsequently, the winners of the
division level contest will participate
in the district level contest, which
will be held in April at Hotel
Sheraton, Dammam.
Speeches by contestants were
judged on different parameters,
such as content, body language,
variety and appropriateness.
Noriza Guerra, Governor for
Area 11, noted, “I had confidence
that the participants will do well,
and everybody enjoyed the contest
and praised the participants’ performances.”
“It was wonderful to see students competing with top managers from different companies,
and even winning! Toastmasters
International really does much to
improve a person’s communication skills; leaders are truly made
here,” said Andrea Taguibao,
Treasurer for Area 11.
“What I really gain from being a part of Toastmasters International is training in speaking to
a diverse group. In university, we
generally tend to speak to a female
audience of the same age group,
but here the audience is a mixed
group of different nationalities and
ages,” said Anbreen, winner of the
table topics category.
The winners in each category
will move on to the division level
contest to be held in March at the
Effat University’s campus. Subsequently, the winners of the division level contest will participate
in the district level contest, which
will be held in April at Hotel Sheraton, Dammam.
Prince Sultan College Club
and the ALJ-DAO Club are also a
part of Area 11, but were unable to
participate. Prince Sultan College
Club could not participate due to
issues with registration, but were
in attendance at the contest. The
members of ALJ-DAO were unavailable due to corporate responsibilities, and had informed TI of
their absence beforehand.