What happens when five musicians who have never met before and haven’t performed in person since the start of the pandemic get together in Abu Dhabi and Dubai?

In the second part of this hip-hop diplomacy story, the ExchangeAlumni team of Next Level artist-educators dive into the magic of connecting in person and serendipity.

For more Voices of Exchange, visit alumni.state.gov/voicesofexchange. Subscribe at bit.ly/SubscribenowVoE.

Yeah. I think the one thing the pandemic has taught us is that w- we can pivot and do things virtually. As we learned during the orientation process for Next Level, we can even do cyphers virtually, where people are playing music and freestyling with rhymes at the same time, but I've gotta say, there is no substitute for an in-person experience.

00:24 Voices of Exchange opening narration

Welcome to Voices of Exchange!

I’m Asha Beh…

and I’m Maria Eliades… We’re back for Part 2 of Hip Hop Diplomacy, when Team UAE – Aaron [A-ron] Myers, DJ Dirty Digits, Jazzmyn Red, Brown Jewel, and RTST - talks about the pivot to in-person learning and exchange.

With a touch of serendipity…

What was it like being in person at the U.S. Pavilion at Expo Dubai?

… surreal. It was really, really surreal.

Uh, I mean, up until that point, I, I, I just started deejaying, uh, like, at bars and clubs, like, aro- around Ju- July of last year, so I wasn't ready, kinda slowly dipping my toe back into it. But you know, I, I didn't expect to have, like, a hands-on, like, teaching experience like that anytime soon, so you know... And I think it's key to have, you know, you know... having it in person to, to d- ... to a degree because, like, you can learn this all online, for sure, but, like, having someone there, like, show you, you know, this is a two-click flare, this is a, you know... this is how you mix on beat. And just to see it directly in front of you, I think it's more impactful that way as opposed to just rewinding YouTube and... over and over again.

I think for me, like, uh, I... 'cause I already work in education and have to go into the schools, during that year, most of it have been virtual, and so making the transition from, okay, I'm typically at home and not in those spaces to taking this flight overseas, and just considering all of those things, it was... it was, you know... it was... it was a pinch of some nerves in there. (laughs) But once getting there, and because they did have so many things in place, like with the testing and just the mask, everything was just so... it felt like more, uh, safe, I guess, than being in New York. (laughs)

And it felt more comfortable, and I... also I feel like it was something I know that I needed 'cause, you know, like, having those in-person interactions, especially in learning, to... is really important and... for beat making. And like RTST was saying, like, there are certain things, yeah, you can watch it on YouTube and do your tutorials all day, but to actually have, like, in-person engagement on learning how to, like, use the tools to create is really important.

Yeah. I think the one the pandemic has taught is that w- we can pivot and do things virtually. As we learned during the orientation process for Next Level, we can even do cyphers virtually, where people are playing music and freestyling with rhymes at the same time, but I've gotta say, there is no substitute for an in-person experience.

Why do you feel that cultural programs like Next Level are important to diplomacy?

I, I think it, it really, it allows us to see one another in a new different and more positive light. Uh, we recognize against the backdrop of some of the global conflicts happening right now, think about Russia, Ukraine, and other ones that have come before this, is that sometimes governments can't always get along, but when you connect in person and around a shared mutual interest, whatever it might be in, in the arts category, more specifically hip hop and, and our respective crafts, um, you start to, I, I think see one another in, in a different light. You have a greater appreciation for the people, for the culture, for the place, independent of whatever differences exist in the geopolitical context.

And you have relationships from which, at least in my case, I continue to say, not only from the other members of the team UAE, but from the student collaborators, you continue to derive inspiration and feel like you're part of a bigger community, uh, off of which you feed and allows you to continue to grow and thrive as an artist for whatever your ambitions are at being, uh, a part of this, this beautiful culture.

I'll jump in, too. Um, you know, u- uh, for me, like, I've always grown up with this notion of, like, music is the universal language. Um, it was actually, like, intentionally incorporated into my name, Jazzmyn, with two Zs, um, and music very much is the universal language. Like, music is something that connects us a lot of the time when words fail us, and hip-hop is, is based very much in community, right? So when you have programs like this that, not only take you into a different landscape, like take you to a different, you know, country to, to meet different people who come from a different place than you, but when you also have the ability to be brought there with people who are from different places from the same place you're from, right? Like, we are... We are from kinda all over the place here in this one group.

Um, you're, you're really creating bridges between so many spaces, and I think, like, right now, um, you know, with everything being on Zoom I think sometimes we can be really disconnected. Like, I- I've been online, basically, since early 2020. Like, I've been working from home. I've been in my house. Like, (laughs) you know, um, and having the experience where, like, you're, you're able to have cultural exchange, um, you're able to exchange within people who are within your same, you know, craft, uh, people from around the country that you're from and from other countries, it's just, like, the... it's everything. It's everything, and I think that, you know, with more programs like this with people who do get to meet more people and travel to more places and have more of these experiences, um, there can be more understanding. There can be more cultural acceptance. There can be a higher level of coexistence, um, so... Yeah.

Kind of bounce off that like, you know, there wasn't much of a language barrier in, in Abu Dhabi, um, and predominantly, you know, people spoke English, but you know, even if there, even if there was, even if they did speak, you know, Arabic for majority of the time, like we would've connected just via the skills itself. And I think that's the beauty of hip-hop. Like it's, it's an oral and like a visual experience and like, and I think people just are, you know, generally attracted to that. And I think it helps connect, you know, people of, you know, different, uh, you know, politics and different like, you know, uh, you know, different nationalities just, just, just on the four elements alone. So I think that in itself is a very beautiful thing and it's not, uh, often you get to see, uh, you know, uh, a music genre transcend past, you know, just the music itself.

For a team that initially connected virtually, you seem like you’ve known each other for ages. Was this the first time you’d all met?

We were really connected first time through Next Level. I think there were some outside connections before that happened. I know myself and RTST are both DJs. Uh, we originally met in Cincinnati in 2016 at a DJ battle. Maybe it was 2015. I forget the year, RTST, you might have to help me out with that one, bro.

2014.

'14. My God.

Yeah.

Um, so we've actually battled a couple times before, so we know each other from the DJ battle circuit. And so, um, we had this rapport that we were fortunate enough to be able to continue and, um, spread throughout the, the UAE residency as well. Um, I'm not sure if the other artist had any previous connection. I was under the understanding that we really didn't, we just initially connected for Next Level and kinda used our background in hip-hop and what it has taught us and, you know, had this common vision from the very beginning we were able to spread throughout. But I want everyone else to speak, if you want to chime in as well.

Yeah, I just wanted to add that while Jazzmyn Red and I are based in the same state, I had to go all the way to UAE to connect with them. (laughs) But it was worth the trip. Now, I feel like we're forever bonded in a unique way, as I am with other members of this team. And I wanted to compliment Jazzmyn Red in that she's continued to be an ambassador for hip-hop. She recently organized an event through, uh, Big Brothers Big Sisters, an organization with which she works that focuses on hip hop and how it can be a tool for healthy lifestyles, uh, and engaged me along with some other standout artists from, from our state here. And so from a worldwide level to a local level as she continues to put in that work. And so I had talked to you, Jazzmyn Red and thank you.

Thank you, thank you. I appreciate that. Um, I'll also, you know, jump in. I, like Aaron said, like he was the closest in proximity to me 'cause we live in the same state about 45 minutes from each other, but we had never met before. I hadn't met anybody. Um, but I think like from the initial, so, so Digits did something that I really appreciated, where he had us meet a couple of times on Zoom. And the first time was a little awkward, I'm not gonna lie, low key somebody, I'm not gonna say who, did tell me that I looked mean. (laughs)

Yes, I said it. Yes. I said it.

(laughs) It was Brown Jewel. Brown Jewel was like, "Ooh, I looked at you and was like, I dunno if I'm gonna like her." Um, but we're mad cool. Um, so, you know, I think that was interesting like getting everybody on the Zoom and like getting, uh, a feel for everyone. Um, and then we had a, we had a second Zoom meeting I believe, uh, where we got to connect even a little bit more. And then we, like we had all gotten each other on socials, so I was able to follow these folks before like we left. I, I found out like RTST was also like a pit parent, a pit bull parent. So I was like, "Okay, we're locked in." Like Aaron lives near me, we're both from Boston. He knows what's going on. Like me and Brown Jewel were just connected from jump, I felt like so it was, it was cool to like get through social media and get a background on like who you're going to be spending time with, and then through the Zoom meetings like kind of break the ice with each other already and get a feel for each other's like personalities and how it's, how like it feels to be within the group. Um, and I just thought it was really interesting because, you know, when you take this many people who don't know each other at all and you put them together, anything can happen, right? And it just so happens that like for us, like I don't, I don't wanna speak for everybody else when I speak for me, it just so happens for us through my lens like it just-- it worked out so seamlessly and so perfectly. Like we are all, like, really friends for real now.

Like I already told Brown Jewel and Digits, like I'm pulling up to Boston, uh, to, to Brooklyn. I'm gonna grab Aaron and we just gonna go, and RTST you're gonna have to meet us via - family reunion. You know what I'm saying? Like so, um, yeah, I mean it was just really interesting how that all kinda, uh, came together.

Can I quickly shout out Jewel, speaking to selflessness. We have artist days, we have this, we have schedules and we have days off. We have rest days. That's, that's part of my job as a site manager to make sure the artist can enjoy the experience as well. I remember, I think it was like our first day off, like I'm checking out on the team, seeing what everyone's doing, I can't find Jewel. Jewel thought the best thing to do 'cause the students really wanted to get more time in, is she, she took her day off and went back to teach. So she's back in with the students to give them everything. That's like, Jewel, amazing. So like, I just wanted to shout out Jewel for that. Like speaking to selflessness, that has to go noted, you know, like super inspiring.

Thank you. Yeah, to add to what Jazzmyn was saying, like I really didn't know anybody out of all of them. And I think I started connecting with RTST on Instagram 'cause I saw he was from Chicago and I'm from Wisconsin. So Chicago's like one hour drive from my hometown. So I was like, "Okay, at least I got like a little connection with RTST before we get there." But as Jazzmyn said, I thought she was mean and (laughs) I mean, just, she looked so serious, I, I couldn't figure it out.

I'm not.

Yeah, we all know that now, but at the time, like, I was like, "Oh, I don't know how this-

No.

(laughs)

(laughs)

... how, how this group is gonna be, you know? And I think I expressed that I think to Dirty and Junious as well. I was like, I was really shocked really at how much of a synergy we all had. You know, we would have dinners and lunches together and talk for hours, and we would like literally shut the restaurants down just with conversation, you know? So it was just really a great experience, you know, that we all, you know, despite not really knowing each other, was able to connect so strongly overseas.

Yes, shout outs to the great Baklava awakening (laughs) of 2021. (laughs)

Yeah, no, I mean, i- it- it's, it's funny because like, uh, my, my wife and I have been watching a lot of Love Is Blind this past week, and I think we all had that moment going into, uh, Abu Dhabi. Like I, yeah, we never met outside of me and Dan knowing each other through battling. Uh, it's wild how serendipitous that, that worked out. And it was all through just a shared love for hip hop and just kind of like there wasn't a day where we weren't quoting like random hip hop songs just out of the blue and everyone was cool with it and just, were just making puns, shooting 'em left and right and not like, it was, it was cool. I felt, like I felt almost comfortable just like stepping out of the airport and just being in the car with like, you know, all of us just, and we already just kind of like, you know, parlaying off each other like right at that moment. So yeah, it, you know, it was great. It was like, that was like one of a kind of experie- one of a kind experience. Uh, you never hear anything like that, that often. (laughs)

Thank you to Team UAE for joining us today, and thank you, dear listeners, for tuning in.

Stay tuned for one more music episode before the end of the year.