Artist, activist mines culture of hip-hop

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raps under the moniker "young cush," is a visual and performingartist who brings a unique academic and life experience backgroundto his endeavors.

And a great attitude, according to associate philosophy professorand University of Texas-El Paso Philosophy Department chair JuanFerret.

"Asher is a dedicated and enthusiastic student with great passionand vision for his work and art," Ferret said.

His "Ninth Trybe" vision, Underwood explained, has threecomponents. He is currently seeking nonprofit status for the NinthTrybe school of Arts and Sciences, which will focus on outreachefforts and educational programs. A production company componentwould produce events, films, books and other for-profit enterprisesto fund the nonprofit activities, and the third component wouldsupport nonprofit student and advocacy groups.

He is also working to provide a place for graffiti artists toexpress themselves.

"I want to teach youth that they can professionalize their craftand be more effective in changing the things they're angry about,rather than destroying the community of which they're a part. I'vefound a building in San Miguel we can paint and it's open to anygraffiti artists who would like to be a part of the group," hesaid.

Underwood, who describes himself as "an advocate of grassrootship-hop activism and social change, as well as voting and electoralreform," recently received a bachelor's degree from the Universityof Washington (UW) in their Comparative History of Ideas Program.

The eclectic degree program included courses focusing on everythingfrom the late hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur to world history andreligion.

Underwood, now 29, formed the student organization Ninth TrybeStudies UW and a university chapter of the Hip-Hop Congress UWChapter, and with fellow students organized a "Re-thinkingDiversity" open mic event that raised funds to help start a UWAmerican ethnic studies graduate program.

"When I was living in Seattle, I became a member of the criminaljustice reform group, Justice Works!, Anti-Racist White StudentUnion, and I'm still active with the 206 Northwest Hip-Hopcommunity."

He has participated in regional open mics and events like the SoulVerse Open Stage Emcee Battle at New Mexico State University.

Now making his home in Chamberino, he's a grad student at UTEP,pursuing a master's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. He's alsoactive in arts advocacy and Borderland educational andphilanthropic efforts including Pastors for Peace(pastorsforpeace.org), a group that aims to nurture world peace andcommunication through free exchange of cultural and educationalmaterials and is currently working to get medical and educationalsupplies, including computers, to impoverished areas in Cuba.

Underwood, who spoke at the recent Doña Ana County ArtsCouncil Art Forum calling for more participation by area youths, isenthusiastic about the Borderland arts community and hopes to teachand involve more young people in cultural activities throughoutreach activities, he said. He is also currently working on hissecond book.

To hear his "Cush from the Bush" rap, visitwww.myspace.com/ninthtrybe, also the source for information onseveral of his other ongoing projects.