Unique opportunity for hip-hop hopefuls

LOCAL budding hip-hop artists are being offered an opportunity to polish their talent and possibly kick-start a successful career in music through a major arts mentoring programme at axis in Ballymun.

The programme is the third element of the Arts Council funded Playground initiative at the Ballymun arts centre and applicants are now being invited for the programme.

Comedian Dean Scurry and hip-hop artist Lethal Dialect will mentor the successful applicants.

Apart from a successful career in comedy, Scurry co-managed hip-hop rap crew

‘Urban Intelligence’ from 2001 to 2008 and now runs independent music label workinclassrecords.com.

The Ballymun youth worker is also a founding member of The House of Fun Comedy Club and has been gigging regularly across Ireland and the UK since 2005.

Cabra-born Blanchardstown emcee, Lethal Dialect, came into the public eye thanks to his successful debut album, LD50 part 1, in 2010. The following year he became a featured artist on the second season of RTE’s award-winning crime-based series

‘Love/Hate’.

The mentoring initiative at axis will give hip-hop artists struggling with their careers a chance to work with one of Ireland’s foremost hip-hop artists and build confidence to move forward.

Director of axis, Mark O’Brien, said the local arts centre was thrilled to be hosting the programme.

“axis are delighted to have Lethal Dialect and Dean Scurry as mentors on our next phase of Playground,

? he added.

“Hip-hop has been a central part of axis music programme both from a concert and developmental point of view over the last number of years. Workin’ Class Records recently had a residency here and Lethal Dialect is resident in our music studios at present completing his latest album.

“This new opportunity is the next phase of our continuing work in this area and we look forward to the outcomes.

?

Applicants are being asked to send links to online video and music, a CV and an email outlining expressions of interest. Organisers are looking for artists who are over 18 and serious about progressing in the music industry as professional hip-hop artists.

The successful applicants will receive a mixture of music advice, face to face meetings, business advice and critique. They will also work with Lethal Dialect and Dean Scurry to organise a showcase hip-hop gig in axis Ballymun.

Applications need to be sent by March 14. Expressions of interests should be emailed to [email protected].