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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Soran Omar, known by his stage name Frank Flo, is a 23-year-old rapper from Rania near Sulaimani. Like many other young artists across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, he hopes to encourage a music culture that society will embrace, though they face obstacles from their families and the communities in following their dreams of becoming lyrical or dance artists.
He is taking classes with US-based YES Academy.
“This year is more interesting because the classes are more interesting,” Omar told Rudaw English, expressing high praise for his instructor Fabian Saucedo.
"I'm waking up every day looking forward to coming to the class and just learning what he knows because this guy has been around the world for quite a long time."
YES Academy has been traveling to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region teaching different genres of music since 2007. This year the program focuses on rap and hip-hop music, beatboxing, breakdancing, and 'Pop & Lock.'
Approximately 30 students are enrolled in the hip hop music program.
A duo from Anbar, Hip Hop Unleashed (HHU), includes hip hop artists and rappers Ahmed Salem aka 'Mr. Legendary' and his friend Mamoun Yacob aka I.Q_Kid. They have both been rapping since 2013 but this is the first time they have been involved with YES Academy.
"I'm so excited to be here, Salem said. "I learned a lot of information and knowledge about the hip hop culture."
"It's not about just one element of hip hop culture, it's about music in general, how to make it a business, how to deal with social media and a lot of things like that."
His partner was equally excited to be a part of learning this year from the academy.
"It's so amazing, Yacob told Rudaw. "It has helped me to write, with my flow on rapping, about the music business. Many things I leaned here."
"I want to reflect what I have learned here to the new generation, to get rid of terrorism, to get rid of the negative things, to make something of their talents and arts," he added.
Naji Al Assafiri, aka The Naj, is another hip hop artist and song writer originally from Lebanon but living in Kurdistan for over 10 years.
"Hip hop is a way of expressing your pain or happiness. This type of art is needed in Kurdistan."
YES Academy's hip hop instructor Fabian Saucedo aka Farbeon is based in Brooklyn, New York. He describes himself as a "hip hop artist, educator and agent of change."
"A lot of my effort goes into the teaching of music and not just music for music's sake but art for growth sake, for activism, for spreading messages," he told Rudaw.
Saucedo, who has been teaching hip hop for nearly 20 years, said there's a rich musical tradition in Middle Eastern music that the youth grew up listening up.
"But now, the next level is when young, Middle Eastern artists stop trying to sound English and American and start bringing in the Middle Eastern influence to their music," he added.
Saucedo said that his students are preparing a seven or eight track record to be released before the academy finishes the program on Thursday.
"It's going to utilize a Middle Eastern scale, Kurdish lyrics, Arabic lyrics, English lyrics but it's going to be uniquely hip hop," he added.
"I think it's only a matter of time before the region realizes these are the poets of this generation, these are the voices of this generation and they have positive messages, they have messages on how to make the world a more peaceful and loving place."
Hussein Khalil aka Storm, is a 28-year-old BBoy or breakdancer from Najaf who started dancing in 2010. He told Rudaw this was his second time joining YES academy – happy for the opportunity in a society that doesn't accept his style of dancing and music.
"We try harder and harder but the society things this is crazy," he said. "They say it's forbidden in our culture."
"But YES Academy cares about us," he said. "They motivate us to dance and I won't stop my dancing."
Ahmed Mohammed aka BBoy Bilal is a 20 year old student from Basra. It's his second time to join the dance academy.
"I learned many, many things from YES Academy. I learned how to feel confident in myself," Mohammed told Rudaw. "It's not a problem about winning or losing, confidence is the important thing."
He added that musical artists are too often judged for their different styles of dance or music.
"Our society doesn't understand our dance styles but they should learn more about it," Mohammed said. "Don't judge me for what I'm doing or my face. Come and talk to me and see what my response is."
He enjoys the 'Pop & Lock' dance style and often practices at the camp with other members of his group called the Kurdish Dragons.
"YES Academy helped me to realize that someone cares about me to teach me dancing and learn about other things, other people, and other dancers," he told Rudaw.
Rwan Jawad from Erbil is just 14 years old but has been dancing since she was six. She is having fun learning new styles at the dance academy and making new friends.
"I love it here. They are supportive and make me want to do more things," she said. "I'd like to show Kurdistan that like other countries; we don't have to be ashamed of who we are."
As one of only four females enrolled in the dance program of 20 students, she said that she has faced backlash and bullies for her dancing.
"But I don't care because it's my goal and my dream to get there," she said.
John Ferguson, Executive Director of American Voices which through music with YES Academy says they are trying the build a platform for the region's youth to express themselves.
Around 50 students of all ages are taking part in the program this year between music and dance, performing in Kurdish, Arabic, and English.
They are working towards a final performance taking place at Erbil’s Family Mall on Thursday.
He is taking classes with US-based YES Academy.
“This year is more interesting because the classes are more interesting,” Omar told Rudaw English, expressing high praise for his instructor Fabian Saucedo.
"I'm waking up every day looking forward to coming to the class and just learning what he knows because this guy has been around the world for quite a long time."
YES Academy has been traveling to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region teaching different genres of music since 2007. This year the program focuses on rap and hip-hop music, beatboxing, breakdancing, and 'Pop & Lock.'
Approximately 30 students are enrolled in the hip hop music program.
A duo from Anbar, Hip Hop Unleashed (HHU), includes hip hop artists and rappers Ahmed Salem aka 'Mr. Legendary' and his friend Mamoun Yacob aka I.Q_Kid. They have both been rapping since 2013 but this is the first time they have been involved with YES Academy.
"I'm so excited to be here, Salem said. "I learned a lot of information and knowledge about the hip hop culture."
"It's not about just one element of hip hop culture, it's about music in general, how to make it a business, how to deal with social media and a lot of things like that."
His partner was equally excited to be a part of learning this year from the academy.
"It's so amazing, Yacob told Rudaw. "It has helped me to write, with my flow on rapping, about the music business. Many things I leaned here."
"I want to reflect what I have learned here to the new generation, to get rid of terrorism, to get rid of the negative things, to make something of their talents and arts," he added.
Naji Al Assafiri, aka The Naj, is another hip hop artist and song writer originally from Lebanon but living in Kurdistan for over 10 years.
"YES Academy gave the hip hop artists a chance to meet each other and learn new things," he told Rudaw. "It united us and helped us to record songs and let our talent shine."
"Hip hop is a way of expressing your pain or happiness. This type of art is needed in Kurdistan."
YES Academy's hip hop instructor Fabian Saucedo aka Farbeon is based in Brooklyn, New York. He describes himself as a "hip hop artist, educator and agent of change."
"A lot of my effort goes into the teaching of music and not just music for music's sake but art for growth sake, for activism, for spreading messages," he told Rudaw.
Saucedo, who has been teaching hip hop for nearly 20 years, said there's a rich musical tradition in Middle Eastern music that the youth grew up listening up.
"But now, the next level is when young, Middle Eastern artists stop trying to sound English and American and start bringing in the Middle Eastern influence to their music," he added.
Saucedo said that his students are preparing a seven or eight track record to be released before the academy finishes the program on Thursday.
"It's going to utilize a Middle Eastern scale, Kurdish lyrics, Arabic lyrics, English lyrics but it's going to be uniquely hip hop," he added.
"I think it's only a matter of time before the region realizes these are the poets of this generation, these are the voices of this generation and they have positive messages, they have messages on how to make the world a more peaceful and loving place."
Hussein Khalil aka Storm, is a 28-year-old BBoy or breakdancer from Najaf who started dancing in 2010. He told Rudaw this was his second time joining YES academy – happy for the opportunity in a society that doesn't accept his style of dancing and music.
"We try harder and harder but the society things this is crazy," he said. "They say it's forbidden in our culture."
"But YES Academy cares about us," he said. "They motivate us to dance and I won't stop my dancing."
Ahmed Mohammed aka BBoy Bilal is a 20 year old student from Basra. It's his second time to join the dance academy.
"I learned many, many things from YES Academy. I learned how to feel confident in myself," Mohammed told Rudaw. "It's not a problem about winning or losing, confidence is the important thing."
He added that musical artists are too often judged for their different styles of dance or music.
"Our society doesn't understand our dance styles but they should learn more about it," Mohammed said. "Don't judge me for what I'm doing or my face. Come and talk to me and see what my response is."
Ojalan has been living in Darashakran Syrian refugee camp since the civil war broke out.
He enjoys the 'Pop & Lock' dance style and often practices at the camp with other members of his group called the Kurdish Dragons.
"YES Academy helped me to realize that someone cares about me to teach me dancing and learn about other things, other people, and other dancers," he told Rudaw.
Rwan Jawad from Erbil is just 14 years old but has been dancing since she was six. She is having fun learning new styles at the dance academy and making new friends.
"I love it here. They are supportive and make me want to do more things," she said. "I'd like to show Kurdistan that like other countries; we don't have to be ashamed of who we are."
As one of only four females enrolled in the dance program of 20 students, she said that she has faced backlash and bullies for her dancing.
"But I don't care because it's my goal and my dream to get there," she said.
John Ferguson, Executive Director of American Voices which through music with YES Academy says they are trying the build a platform for the region's youth to express themselves.
"This is the first year we've had dance and the hip hop youth together," Ferguson told Rudaw. "Just being able to spend 10 days with professional teachers is really useful. I think the second important thing is building a platform."
Around 50 students of all ages are taking part in the program this year between music and dance, performing in Kurdish, Arabic, and English.
They are working towards a final performance taking place at Erbil’s Family Mall on Thursday.
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