Hip Hop Asians Take Over Bay Lake!

Kicking it with APA Youth at Bay Lake Camp

Sassy, intelligent, talented youth. Multiply this pyramid by 4 and you've got the illest next generation of leaders.

Q: What do you get when you put 42 joke-cracking teenagers, one of the most respected DJs in the game, and a Lao poet who rocks wrestling shoes in the same room with no AC?

A: A 3 hour workshop on culture, civic engagement, hip hop, and leadership followed by one crazy ass dance party, thats what.

So my DJ and I drove the 3 hours to Deerwood, MN from the Twin Cities. A couple of hours into our drive, we got into the small town of Garrison and realized that neither of us brought a digital camera. Too late to turn around and too broke to buy another one on the way.

Ilean called my cell, "Call me when you get here because then I can send out the ferry to pick you up. Oh by the way, we're on an island."

Here we are with thousands of dollars worth of equipment: turntables, mixer, computer, cables, microphones, and speakers (props to EMI in Mpls. for donating some equipment) about to go on a dinky ferry boat.

My partner turned to me and said, "If that ferry tips over, I'm saving the equipment. Just letting you know."

We got there and did what we went to do, son! To solve our 'no digital camera' problem, I told the kids to "tag me" on Facebook, and they did not disappoint. So to them, I'm thankful that I've got pictures.

Imperial DJ Science telling the future leaders of tomorrow:
"Its not about where you come from, its about where you're going in life."

Poking fun at Asiatic stereotypes.

These two were too cool to do the 'stanky leg', preferred dodging orbs.

Much love to Ilean Her and the Council of Asian Pacific Minnesotans for bringing my crew, Imperial DJ Science, out to Bay Lake Camp in northern MN earlier this month to perform and speak on the importance of using our talents and strengths to make moves in our communities. The Council's APA Youth Leadership Retreat is one of the illest out there because it promotes youth to be proactive rather than reactive. Participants are encouraged to be creative, to think analytically, and to find their own strengths and leadership style in order to create positive changes. How lucky was Imperial DJ Science to have been able to work with them?

We spent the night there. Bonded with the kids (can't possibly name them individually, there were 42 for crying out loud) after our workshop and dance party by telling ghost stories next to an open fire, a midnight hike on the island through the woods lead by "the DJ" (as the kids referred to him), late night mashed potatoes eating, followed by pranks involving campers faces, markers, and dental floss.

The next morning after everyone stuffed their faces with pancakes, sausages, and fresh fruits at breakfast, "the DJ" did a turntablism workshop. Participants tried their hands at beat mixing, counting beats, and learning about the equipment in general. Meanwhile, 200 yards away in another building, I performed pieces from No Regrets and gave a talk of creative writing, claiming identity, and being content in where I am in my life.

By the way, there was AC.