Rapper to Deliver Keynote at Imagine Student Success Conference

PRLog (Press Release) - Jan. 27, 2009 - Malvern rapper, Jair Dynast is determined to spark debate about the negative stereotypes of hip hop culture and change attitudes by quietly inspiring youngsters that experience adversity.  

After Eastern Commerce, Jair traveled to Connecticut in pursuit of a basketball scholarship achieving success at a Division I JUCO in Texas. However, fate was unkind to Jair a year into his athletic scholarship - he was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, a condition that often kills young athletes suddenly.

Jair, means ‘one whom God has enlightened’ so he quickly turned his adversity into opportunity.  Having grown up in a household filled with music, he accompanied his parents to free outdoor concerts at Ontario Place as a new immigrant from Barbados. Jair switched to music to gain solace from the discomfort he felt from not being able to play and keep his scholarship.

His debut album, V.I.A.L.E.N.C.E., achieved RapReviews Top 10 Album of the Year, along with the #1 single on the Top 30 Grassroots Hip Hop Charts. Features in Blues & Soul, Knowledge Magazines, U.K., Nation-News, Barbados, two showcases at the CMJ Music Marathon and others followed. In two months, over 34k fans have viewed Jair’s music video, ‘Simple Plan’ on: YouTube, Vimeo and Imeem combined.

Sanctioned by the TDSB, Jair will conduct 5-shows/workshops at Toronto schools for African Heritage Month and has written ‘Art of Invention’, a song paying tribute to the significant contributions African-Americans made to modern society. The song’s video and free mp3 become available from jairdynast.com in February. ThisInventionIsBlack.com will pay tribute to the inventors, highlight their contributions and offer inner-city kids a place of inspiration all year.

On February 17, Jair Dynast will deliver the Keynote Address at the Imagine Student Success Conference.