HIP-HOP CELEBS AND BERKLEE SCHOLARS WILL AWARD MUSIC EDUCATION TO FIVE WINNERS
NEW YORK/BOSTON, April 9, 2008—ESSENCE magazine's Take Back the Music campaign and Boston's Berklee College of Music have narrowed the search for the newest voices in hip-hop as 10 teens from all over the U.S. advance as finalists in the third Berklee College and ESSENCE Magazine Take Back the Music Hip-Hop Songwriting Contest. Their songs are now available for listening at essence.com/takebackthemusic and Berklee.edu. 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 finalist songwriters and songs are:
Kirby DeJesus Espinal, 17, Dorchester, MA, "Take It Back"
Nyles Witness, 17, Brockton, MA, "The Gamble"
Bryan Hill, 18, Alfred, ME, "Verbal Medicine"
Jennifer Chianesi, 19, Cranston, RI, "Shake Up"
J.B. Brooks, 19, Goose Creek, SC, "Making Change"
Marc Julian Glenn, 17, Detroit, MI, "Million Dollar Opportunity"
Cean Brundage-McNeil, 15, Conyers, GA, "L.I.F.E."
Justin McGibbon, 19, Breinigsville, PA, "Keep Goin'"
Chaney Ellis, 15, Friendswood, TX, "It Don't Come Easy"
Nicholas Garcia, 19, Lodi, NJ, "Feel It"
Winners will be selected by a panel of hip-hop celebrity judges—Yo-Yo, Pete Rock, and Roxanne Shante—and Berklee scholars—professors Prince Charles Alexander (music production and engineering); Pat Pattison (songwriting), Mike Hamilton (music production, Berkleemusic.com), and Da'Raya Wilson (student, 2006 contest winner). Judging is based on clever, 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).
Since 2005, ESSENCE's Take Back the Music campaign examines the ways in which Black women are depicted in popular music and videos. It continues to promote balance in mainstream hip-hop's messages, and remains the inspiration behind the third songwriting contest.
Press contacts:
Allen Bush, Berklee College of Music (617) 747-2658
Sheila Harris, ESSENCE (212) 522-1089
Ra'Chelle Rogers, ESSENCE (212) 522-2724
