Pendulum Ink Academy, the first school for Hip-Hop lyricism, will offer special courses, workshops, and events for its second annual Women’s Month in August 2023. All month-long, the vast majority of its courses will either focus on the contributions of women to the culture of Hip-Hop, or will be led and/or co-taught by special woman guest lecturers, including rapper and longtime member of Busta Rhymes‘ Flipmode Squad Rah Digga, Philly Rap legend Bahamadia, Def Jam South’s first-ever woman artist and the “first lady” of Ludacris‘ Disturbing tha Peace imprint Shawnna, New York Battle Rap staple Jaz The Rapper, and many more.
The month’s special “Criminology in Hip-Hop” course will examine the infamous 2007 case surrounding rapper Remy Ma and will be co-lead by attorney De’Von Douglass; while rap mentor, consultant and Rap Coalition founder Wendy Day will co-teach Pendulum’s “Mickey Money Class” on networking. Other Pendulum courses in August will include “Battle Rap 101”, co-taught by Jaz The Rapper; “The Content Corner”, a special course that will focus on media training, led by celebrity publicist Chanel Rae; “Pendulum Songwriting”, taught by Baegod; Pendulum’s course on poetic “Creative Writing”, co-taught by SJ Henderson; a course on the “Evolution Of Rhyme” throughout Hip-Hop’s history, taught by Bahamadia; battle rappers Casey J and Official‘s course on “Advanced Writing Techniques”; and more.
Pendulum’s “Visual Aesthetics in Hip-Hop” course in August will focus on the artform of breakdancing (also known as breaking), and will be co-taught by Pioneering B-girl Ana “Rokafella” Garcia. This follows the International Olympic Committee’s 2020 announcement that breaking will make its Olympic debut at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. Garcia has recently trained Olympic breaking hopefuls for qualifying regional competitions.
Pendulum’s popular Rhymecology course that explores mental health through self-expressive rhyme will welcome guest lecturer Rah Digga, while the Women’s Month iteration of Pendulum’s “Advanced Rhythm & Style” will focus on rap cadences with guest lecturer Shawnna. “Mickey’s Workshop” will allow students the opportunity to receive professional feedback on their music from a panel of all woman judges.
“Being in this business for 25+ years professionally and actually growing up in the culture, I am looking forward to passing on some of the knowledge that I have learned in hopes that aspiring artists from the next generation can learn something useful that will hopefully be as life-changing for them as this journey has been for me.” – Rah Digga
“Pendulum Ink is the idea that hip hop enthusiasts have had for decades, but has finally been put in motion.” – Jaz The Rapper
“I foresee Pendulum Ink as ultimately being the Khan Academy of authentic Hip-Hop lyricism.” – Bahamadia
“50 Years of Hip-Hop, and I’m teaching a class with Pendulum Ink– of course I’m excited!” – Shawnna
In addition to the special women-focused/led courses, workshops, and events, all women will be eligible to enroll in Pendulum Ink Academy courses for half the original price throughout the month of August.
Pendulum Ink Academy is currently accepting enrollments for new students. Prospective applicants can apply at pendulumink.com or email the school at [email protected].
© 2023, Seth "Digital Crates" Barmash. All rights reserved.
