We wrote a few weeks ago about the amazing experience several First Wavers had in New York in early October at the Hip Hop Theater Festival. Thanks to the wonderful folks at HHTF, we now have the photos to prove it! Check out tons of great shots from the post-show talkback in the Image Gallery in our site’s Multimedia section. All photos were shot by, and are courtesy of, Michael Premo. A sampling are featured below!

Urban Word NYC's Thaihera Nurse and First Wave's Camea Osborn look on as First Wave performer Karl Iglesias fields a question from the audience.

The audience listens to the evening's performers discuss their art.

First Wavers Camea, Gabriel De Los Reyes, and Karl talk to HHTF's Executive Director Clyde Valentín after their second show.

Gabriel, Karl and Camea pose with HHTF's Artistic Director Kamilah Forbes and Clyde Valentín in front of the famed graffiti wall.

The day before Halloween was a busy day for the OMAI/First Wave fam, and not because we were trying to put together last-minute costumes. Friday afternoon, OMAI co-hosted a panel discussion with Ludacris, MTV’s Sway, and former editor of The Source Jonathan “Fahiym” Ratcliffe. A large and engaged audience both applauded and challenged the panelists on issues including hip hop, higher education, race, and responsibility. The UW’s own Badger Herald covered the event and gathered a few student reactions, including that of FW’s own Dianna Harris. Check it out, and stay tuned right here for more coverage, including photos.

The same evening, the First Wave Music Ensemble opened the Ludacris show at the Alliant Energy Center. Madison’s own 77Square.com singled out the First Wave performers as standouts of the opening acts! UWHipHop.com has an initial review, and stay tuned there and here for photo, video and more!

TONIGHT! Members of the First Wave Music Ensemble and our own Creative Director Rafael Casal open for Ludacris at Madison’s Alliant Energy Center in a pre-Freak Fest spectacular. Tickets are still available via Ticketmaster! Stories and photos to come …

OMAI is also co-hosting a panel discussion on campus with Ludacris and Sway TODAY at 1:30pm at the Union Theater. FW artists Cydney Edwards, Andrew Thomas, and Gabriel De Los Reyes are opening that event! UW IDs are required for entry.

Thanks to Monster the Movement and the UW-Madison chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi for being our partners in making these fantastic events happen!