The Reminders, DJ Man-O-Wax and Sackett reunite for Jan. 26 show

In the winter of 2016, hip-hop and global fusion musicians visited upper Midwest cities like Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and Grand Forks, North Dakota, as part of Caravanserai, a multicultural program of Arts Midwest.

The tour featured American Muslim musicians and celebrated their unique, contemporary art forms. Hip-hop, rap, soul, dance and jazz blended with cultural influences to create jubilant, entertaining and inclusive performances that crossed cultural barriers.

Several of those artists — The Reminders, DJ Man-O-Wax and Amirah Sackett — are reuniting to bring their electric stage show to Escher Auditorium at the College of Saint Benedict at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26. This performance is part of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University Fine Arts Series and will be American Sign Language interpreted.

The group will be in residence Jan. 23-26. They have scheduled performances Wednesday, Jan. 24, at All Saints Academy in St. Joseph, and Thursday, Jan. 25, at Technical High School in St. Cloud. They’ll also be working with students from CSB and SJU.

The Reminders’ visionary hip-hop is infused with roots, soul and reggae-tinged hip-hop beats. The group   consists of the husband-wife team of emcee Big Samir and emcee/vocalist Aja Black.

Big Samir weaves intricate rhythmic patterns with a bilingual French/English flow, displaying his street-smart credibility in both his lyrics and cool demeanor. This is complimented Black’s confident delivery, diverse cadences and unique vocal stylings.

The Reminders have released two albums, “Recollect” in 2008 and “Born Champions” in 2012. They have shared the stage with Snoop Dogg, Fishbone, Nas, Mos Def amd K’Naan, among others.

This concert, they’ll be joined on stage by DJ Man-O-Wax and Sackett.

Asad Ali Jafri (aka DJ Man-O-Wax) is the director of arts and Cultural Programs for the Inner-City Muslim Action Network in Chicago, which has presented Muslim artists. As a founder and director of FEW Collective, Jafri directs and tours with a rotating group of performing artists and musicians using art to engage, educate and inspire.

Sackett, who is originally from Minneapolis, is a Chicago-based dancer/choreographer. At Minneapolis’ Intermedia Arts, she has been an active participant and dance curator for “B-Girl-Be,” an international festival for women in hip-hop, as well creating “The Joint Project,” a show encouraging collaborative works between artists in hip-hop. Sackett’s choreography was featured in Brother Ali’s music video “Mourning in America.”

Tickets for the show are $22 for adults, $19 for seniors, $15 for faculty and staff, $15 for youth and students and $10 for CSB and SJU students.

For tickets, call the Benedicta Arts Center Box Office at 320-363-5777 or order online.

The event is supported by CSB/SJU Intercultural and International Student Services, and is co-sponsored in part by Gearbox Functional Creative and Wilkie Sanderson.

These activities are made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.