![American rapper Pinqy Ring works the crowd at an impromptu concert during a reception this week to welcome a group of hip hop artists to Cambodia. [U.S. Embassy photo by Un Yarat]](https://d2v9ipibika81v.cloudfront.net/uploads/sites/80/Next-Level-1-1140x530.jpg "American rapper Pinqy Ring works the crowd at an impromptu concert during a reception this week to welcome a group of hip hop artists to Cambodia. [U.S. Embassy photo by Un Yarat]")
The U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh is proud to sponsor a group of American hip hop performers and artists to Cambodia from March 27- April 8, 2018. The “Next Level” program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Meridian International Center. The program uses hip hop music and dance to encourage people-to-people diplomacy, and all the activities are designed to promote the mutual sharing of knowledge, values, perspectives, and respect between Cambodian youth and American artists. The Next Level team members include:
- Marisol “Pinqy Ring” Velez, MC/Rapper
- Ayumi “SANOizm” Chisolm, Graffiti Artist
- Serouj “Midus” Aprahamian, Dancer
- Michael “Cobaine Ivory” McFadgen, Beatmaker
- Kane Smego, Site Manager
- Juan Gomez, Photographer/Videographer
In Cambodia, the team will conduct four workshop that will take place over two weeks for 60 young Cambodians.
The team will conduct a final performance to showcase the work of the American artists, the workshop participants, and collaborative pieces created during the visit. The final concert will take place April 5, 2018, at the Mansion (#38, Samdech Sothearos Blvd. next to UNESCO Office, in front of the National Museum) from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. There is limited space, and therefore we ask audience members to arrive early.
For more information about the Next Level program in Cambodia, please contact U.S. Embassy Press Officer David Josar at JosarDJ@state.gov.
For more information about the Next Level, please visit: www.nextlevel-usa.org.
