The US Department of State’s “Hip Hop Diplomacy” in Morocco

Abstract

In March of 2010, the US Embassy in Morocco hosted a hip hop band named Chen Lo and the Liberation Family, currently known as The Lo Frequency, as the first stop in the group’s North African and Middle Eastern tour. The band, consisting of emcee Chen Lo, turntablist DJ Scandales, bassist BAASSIK and drummer Ken White, performed four times and led several workshops during their week-long stay in Morocco before moving on to Algeria, Tunisia, Syria, and Lebanon. This tour and others like it are sponsored by the US Department of State, implemented by a rotating cast of non-profit arts administration organizations, and known as the American Music Abroad program (AMA). AMA is one of the most visible ways the US government and its embassies intervene in the production and consumption of “Western” popular musics amongst youth audiences in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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