ABU DHABI // From Timbaland to Snoop Dogg, Abu Dhabi has attracted a host of hip-hop stars in recent years.
But a local collective now aims to nurture the city's own home-grown rap scene with the launch of the Music for Youth programme which begins next Tuesday.
The Emirati hip-hop star Khalifa al Romaithi, the UAE-based rap collective The Recipe, and the funk and hip-hop MC, Rone Jaxx will host workshop sessions geared to honing the lyrical skills of Dubai's budding talent.
"Our objective is to change the preconceptions about hip-hop culture by showcasing the positive aspects of hip-hop and how it can empower the local youth community," said Shatha al Romaithi, of Flash Entertainment.
"This is an opportunity to give some of our local talent an opportunity to gain certain skills and build their network, as well as understand how the industry functions on a commercial and creative level."
The first session, dealing with the art of DJing, and will be followed by a further three workshops, on Wednesday, and then on May 3 and May 4, focusing on producing, radio presenting and artists.
To participate, aspiring rap stars should upload a video themselves performing to Flash's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thinkflash.