Brand: Nomadic Wax is a: record label, production company and events production company specializing in hip-hop and underground music from around the globe.

History: Nomadic Wax was started by founder Ben Herson who in the summer of 1999 stumbled upon a thriving hip-hop scene in Senegal, West Africa. Enthralled by the politically and socially conscious lyrics of the MCs he encountered – Herson went on to write ‘Fat Beats Dope Rhymes and Thug Lives: Hip-Hop, Youth and Politics in Senegal” his award winning undergraduate dissertation on the role of youth, hip-hop and politics in Senegal. In the year 2001 Herson returned to Senegal with a laptop, a few microphones the the help of his collaborator – Dan Cantor of Notable productions. The two of them set up shop in a spare room in a community center in Dakar and recorded African Underground Vol. 1 – a compilation featuring 14 of Dakar’s illest MCs.

Production Company: Since 2001 Nomadic Wax has recorded over 60 groups from countries including Senegal, Sierra Leone, Brazil, Korea, Palestine and Israel among others places. Guerilla style production is at the heart of the Nomadic Wax aesthetic being able to remain flexible recording in community centers bedrooms, and makeshift studios worldwide. Nomadic Wax has produced nearly all music with partner in crime – Notable Productions.

Film: Nomadic Wax has expanded to include film into it’s production arsenal. With collaborators – Sol Productions, Nomadic Wax created the African Underground documentary series. African Underground: Democracy in Dakar and Democracy in Paris have gone on to win awards and accolades from Al Gore’s Current TV, Our Stage, BBC and Washington Post.

Events: Nomadic Wax has also pioneered Global Hip-Hop programming in clubs, colleges, conferences and universities internationally. Nomadic Wax programs involve a unique combination of live performance coupled with film screenings and panel discussions. Nomadic Wax has produced and participated in events at: CMJ, Lincoln Center, SOBs, Rose Live Music among others. Nomadic Wax is also a co-founder of the Trinity International Hip-Hop Festival.