The U.S. State Department is going hip-hop.
The department’s Bureau of Educations and Cultural Affairs said it’s sending the San Francisco-based hip hop group, Audiopharmacy, on a Southeast Asia and Pacific tour, as part the federal agency’s American Music Abroad program.
“With roots in hip hop, Audiopharmacy fuses live instrumentation and global musical styles, making for an eclectic and evolving sound,” said the State Department, in a release reported by the Weekly Standard.
The size of the tab Uncle Sam will stick to taxpayers is unclear.
The group’s tour schedule looks like this: Indonesia, Feb. 14-16. Fiji, Feb. 7-March 4. New Zealand, March 5-7. Samoa, March 8-11. Solomon Islands, March 12-16.
The Weekly Standard continues: “tour activities will include public concerts, lectures, demonstrations, workshops, media outreach and collaborations with local traditional and popular musicians.”
The American Music Abroad program is a joint State Department-American Voices diplomatic effort to bring U.S. culture to underserved populations around the world.
© Copyright 2013 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.
Cheryl Chumley is a continuous news writer for The Washington Times. Previously, she was part of the start-up team for The Washington Times’ digital aggregation product, Times247. She’s also a 2008-2009 Robert Novak journalism fellow with The Phillips Foundation. She can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
By Elaine Donnelly
Extending sexual misconduct to combat units
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
First over-the-counter column approved for fast and effective relief from even your worst media-induced headache.
A collection of reader guest articles, thoughts and opinions by Communities writers and breaking news and information.
Great discoveries in the world of restaurants and chefs fulfill the quest for delicious food and cooking.
Benghazi: The anatomy of a scandal
13 Photos
Vietnam Memorial adds four names
18 Photos
Cinco de Mayo on the Mall
11 Photos
NRA kicks off annual convention
8 Photos
