Underneath the gobs of decadent ice cream and hoards of screaming sports fans lies another fervent community of cultural energy, bringing urban art forms to the forefront of the UW-Madison music scene and revolutionizing the way academia and hip-hop intersect. Herein lies First Wave, a cutting-edge academic, artistic and communal learning program unique to Madison.
""First Wave is really revolutionary and innovative in that it is able to implement hip-hop in academia and put spoke word into pedagogy,"" said Gabriel De Los Reyes, a junior in the program.
Students participating in First Wave are given a scholarship and an academic and living-learning community in which they can pursue their degrees as well as build upon their art forms during their four years at UW-Madison.
The Daily Cardinal also got the chance to speak with Willie Ney, the Executive Director of First Wave.
""Students have the opportunity to really advance their art in a unique way under the leadership of artistic director Chris Walker,"" Ney said. ""[He] pulls the best, most creative elements out of them and makes them a more well-rounded artist. They leave as multitalented artists practicing at a high level.""
The supplemental program, in addition to the already rigorous UW curricula, has a 95 percent retention rate and is preparing to send off its first graduating class—all going into the workforce with full employment.
In addition to these numbers, the First Wave program's most valuable contribution to this campus, besides first-rate urban art, is its contribution to UW's cultural and racial diversity, as well as the outlet it provides for seemingly isolated students of color.
""[First Wave] is definitely helping to bridge the gap between cultures,"" De Los Reyes said, ""Art is a meeting ground, it takes away the shyness and fear of talking to the person next to you and speaking up in a discussion because you're the only minority.
""There are different parts of the world, and through the art you're able to reach them more fully. Art is vulnerable, but at the same time it's like a shield too. You're up there and you're strong, and they get it.""
Ney also discussed the importance of urban art forms in crossing cultural barriers.
""[Urban art forms] reflect the next generation, the hip hop generation is the most multiracial and creative component of our culture,"" he said. ""It's a global culture. By embracing it and celebrating it and giving it due position, we are just recognizing its validity. By excluding it and marginalizing it, it just shows people's lack of understanding of what is vital and important.""
Reflecting on his role as an upperclassman and a mentor in the program, De Los Reyes said the program helps students build a better self-understanding as well.
""It's important to know that you're valuable, that your self worth gets more valuable and valuable as long as you treat yourself as such,"" he said. ""There are no easy shortcuts to getting what you want.""
The relatively new program doesn't show signs of slowing down any time soon—with the full support of the new Vice Provost for Diversity and Climate Damon Williams and other upper-level administration, First Wave promises to become even more academically competitive and culturally pervasive.
""It's already accomplished far more than we ever thought,"" Ney said, ""It's fertile territory for new programs—partly a legacy of the Wisconsin idea.""
First Wave is a selective program that gathers the best and the brightest hip-hop and spoken word artists from around the nation, so it is no wonder its artistic practice is not limited to Madison city borders. Students in the program have had the opportunity to taken their talents to Broadway as well as venues across Europe. Lucky for us, local performances are not few and far between—you can catch First Wave students' final show of the academic year, Just Bust, May 6 on the Memorial Union Terrace.
