Mikal Amin also known as The Hired Gun is an interdisciplinary hip-hop artist and educator manifesting music and message since 2000. A veteran of eleven international tours including extensive work as a State Department Cultural Ambassador through the American Music Abroad program, and as the Artistic Director for the Harlem Biennele “Our Better Angels” project in 2012. The Brooklyn resident has implemented master classes, cultural workshops, lectured and performed in over nine countries on five continents including Nepal, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Brazil, France and at such institutions and festivals as Arca Theater (Czech Republic), Columbia and Fordham University, Alliance France, Palais De Tokyo (France), Shoko International Hip-Hop Festival (Zimbabwe), Hip Hop Kemp (Germany), Azgo Festival (Mozambique), The Bushfire Festival (Swaziland) and The Lourve. The founder of Fresh Roots Music, and co-founder of Re:Education and Say Word Entertainment, he currently serves as a program manager and curator for Brooklyn Academy Music, and Hip-Hop arts facilitator for the Cyphers for Justice at IUME, Teacher's College (Columbia University)