Performing Diaspora 2013: The History of Urban Music in Toronto CONFERENCE BIOGRAPHIES Moderators: Ariefdien, Shaheen is a producer, former emcee, arts educator, academic and child and youth worker. Ariefdien is one of the founding members of Prophets of Da City, a Hip Hop crew from Cape Town, South Africa that produced the first South African Hip Hop release (the first to include the Cape dialect). Ariefdien has helped facilitate a number of youth education projects that use Hip Hop as a tool for social justice in South Africa and abroad. Ariefdien holds an M.A in Social Anthropology that he earned from York University, and he is currently completing a diploma in child and youth work from the School of Social & Community Services at Humber College. Black, Simon is a PhD student in Political Science at York University where he teaches “Hip Hop and the City” in the Urban Studies program and is a research associate at The City Institute. Black’s writing has appeared in POUND Magazine, The International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, The International Socialist Review, New Labor Forum, and on rabble.ca. Black also contributes op-eds on urban issues to The Toronto Star. Chimbganda, Tapo is a PhD student in the Faculty of Education at York University. Chimbganda has practiced psychotherapy for several years. Chimbganda holds a Masters in psychoanalytical psychotherapy that she earned in Dublin, Ireland. Chimbganda’s current research is on psychoanalytic race theories. Gaynair, Marlene is a graduate of York University with a Specialized Honours degree in History. Gaynair will be pursuing her Master's Degree in History focusing on Jamaican domestic workers in Toronto. Gaynair has a passion for civic engagement and popular culture and also hosts a blog called, “Easy, My Selecta” on tumblr. Academics & Journalists: Cowie, Del is a Toronto-based music journalist and online editor who has written for a number of local, national and international music publications. Cowie’s writing has appeared in VIBE, XXL, Eye Weekly, The Grid and CBC Music. Cowie has served on the Grand Jury of the Polaris Music Prize and has appeared on television as a pop culture commentator on CBC’s The National, Much Music and MTV Canada. Cowie is currently an assistant editor at the Canadian monthly music magazine Exclaim! Hudson, Audrey is an educator who currently teaches at OCAD University and is a first year PhD candidate at the University of Toronto/Ontario Institute for the Study of Education (UT/OISE). Hudson received her Masters in Education from York University (2012) and her Bachelor in Fine Arts from OCAD (2002). Hudson is interested in the intersection between the arts in urban environments. Kauldher, Amrita is an MA student in Social Anthropology at York University. Kauldher’s work seeks to build upon the scholarly framework of Hip Hop culture as a post-colonial site and scene of ethnic and racial reinventions and exchanges. Kauldher hopes to contribute to Canadian scholarship on Hip Hop by examining the connections between Punjabi Hip Hop artists and youth-led social movements within the diasporic Punjabi-Sikh community through memorializing practices intended to commemorate the 1984 Sikh genocide. Lee, A.W is a PhD student in Cultural Studies at Queens University. Lee's work explores scientific, social and performative embodiments of masculinity, Asian diasporic identity, and queer identities in Hip Hop culture. Lee is also a touring musician performing under the name ManChyna. Lee’s video “Brokeback That Ass Up” has been showcased at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival. This "gay rural Chinese rapper," has been described (outragedc.com) as, "literally all of the tea party's worst fears," and his work "is sure to unsettle kindly pale-faced mid- westerners, spook immigrant grandparents of all flavors, and can actually be used to banish Andrew Breitbart’s ghost." Mehmi, Deepak A. is a PhD student in Communication and Culture at York University, and is currently a course director for “Reflections on Consumer Culture” and a campus radio programmer. Mehmi used to love Hip Hop. Mohammed, Ola is a PhD student in Social and Political Thought at York University. Tecle, Sam is a PhD student in Sociology at York University. Tecle’s current research focuses on Black Diasporic Cultural Studies by examining the traces, continuities and disjunctions across Canada, Britain and the US. Roundtable Participants: Dan-e-o (Daniel Faraldo), is an emcee and actor who began his career as a consistent winner of rap battles (one of which was a rap-off competition featured on Much Music’s dance music show Electric Circus). His first single, “Dear Hip Hop” which is now considered a Canadian Hip Hop classic, was released on Beat Factory’s RapEssentials Volume One album in 1996 and was accompanied by a Canada-wide tour. Dan-e-o helped establish his crew Monolith as a Canadian Hip Hop favourite in 1997 by co-founding One Rock Records and independently releasing the EP, The Long Awaited, the following year. Dan-e-o is currently one-half of the Perfeck Strangers duo, alongside fellow Toronto emcee Promise. DJ Mel Boogie (Melissa Langley), is an influential radio and event DJ, freelance writer and publicist. DJ Mel Boogie’s roots are deeply embedded in college radio; she has worked at CHRY 105.5FM and CKLN 88.1FM, as is currently the DJ/Co-Host of Droppin’ Dimez Radio, Canada’s ONLY All Female Hip Hop Show. DJ Mel Boogie has also opened for some of Hip Hop’s most respected artists, including Busta Rhymes, Q-Tip and M.O.P. Since its launch in 1995, MelBoogie has been the resident DJ for Honey Jam, an all-female talent showcase produced by PhemPhat. DJ Mel Boogie is the winner of the Stylus Female DJ of the Year Award (2008), the Underground DJ of the Year (2011), and College Radio Show of the Year (2011). DJ Mel Boogie is also a member of the JUNO's Advisory Board for the Rap Category, and is the Communications Director for UMAC, the Urban Music Association of Canada. DJ X (Adrien King), is an influential radio and event deejay who took over CKLN 88.1 FM’s The Power Move Show as its host, mix show DJ, and producer for 12 years from Ron Nelson. DJ X has also worked as a deejay for other prominent stations that have included CHRY, CBC, KISS 92.5 FM, and FLOW 93.5 FM. DJ X has also spent a number of years as a SOCAN member relations representative, as well as a composer for CBC’s Drop the Beat and Alliance Atlantic. DJ X continues to deejay while also currently working in the field of web design, development and interactive marketing. Higgins, Dalton is an award-winning journalist, pop culture critic, music programmer, broadcaster, filmmaker and author. Higgins is widely regarded as Canada’s foremost expert on Hip Hop culture and has contributed to the work of the CBC, Much Music, Harbourfront, Now Magazine, Toronto Star, The Source and Vibe Magazine. Higgins is the author of five books on popular culture and Hip Hop, including: Fatherhood 4.0, Hip Hop World, Much Master T: A VJ’s Journey, Hip Hop, and his recent work, Far From Over, the first biography of platinum-selling Hip Hop artist and actor Drake. Higgins has also produced documentaries about barbershop culture and human beatboxers. Higgins continues to use the wider Rap culture as a successful gateway to discuss issues of race, class, gender, sexuality, civic engagement/politics and culture. Jackson, Chris is one of the original members of the Get Loose Crew, a recording engineer, broadcast technician and artist manager. Originally the resident deejay for the Get Loose Crew, Chris 'D.J Jel' Jackson, alongside MC Shadow and Mix-Master Len, established their own independent record label East Park Productions in February 1988, through which they released their first self-titled album “Get Loose Crew.” After signing with Electric Distribution, the Get Loose Crew became the first Canadian Rap group to produce a mini LP and the first Canadian Rap record to achieve sales internationally. Jackson is the senior creative director at EasPark Productions, a studio and mobile engineer and broadcast technician for CBC/Radio Canada, a recording engineer for the Glenn Gould Studio and the artist manager of emcee duo Perfeck Strangers (Dan-e-o and Promise). Maestro (Wesley Williams), is a Juno award winning emcee, as well as a Gemini Award nominated actor, motivational speaker and author of the critically-acclaimed book, “Stick to Your Vision.” Considered the “Godfather of Canadian Hip Hop,” his signature song, “Let Your Backbone Slide,” was the first Canadian Hip Hop single to break the national Top 40 and U.S Billboard charts. As an actor, Maestro has worked in both film and television; he is currently a cast member of the CBC’s Mr. D television series. Maestro is also committed to community-oriented issues and continues to lend his support to several charitable organizations such as War Child, Save the Children, Covenant House, the Special Olympics, Battered Womens Support Services (BWSS), and the African AIDS Society. Master T, (Tony Young) is a television and radio personality, broadcaster, producer and urban music promoter. As a VJ (video jockey) for Much Music, Master T helped fuel the growth of Hip Hop, Soul, Dance and Reggae throughout Canada via his hosting of such legendary television programs as Rap City and Da Mix (formerly X-Tendamix). He has also released a series of Master T branded compilations on EMI/Virgin Records. Master T has also done notable work intended to deal with the issues facing Canadian youth through interactive programs such as The Real Deal, and numerous speaking engagements at high schools, colleges and universities.