More than 100 students gathered in HSS 135 to witness the SF State debut of a documentary that explores the role of hip-hop in Cuba, an often misunderstood and socially isolated nation.

Hip-Hop has become more than just a genre of music, it has become a way of life for some people. Even on an island with limited technological resources, the hip-hop scene is thriving as evidenced in the documentary film “Inventos: Hip-Hop Cubanos.”

Professor Antwi Akom, 37, who teaches Africana Studies 256: Hip-Hop Workshop with Professor Shawn Ginwright, said that he approached long-time friend and the film’s director Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi about showing the film to his class. Fantauzzi is a first-time filmmaker who has received numerous awards for the movie, including one from the Denver Pan African Film Festival in 2004 and another from the Cines Las Americas Film Festival in Austin, Texas in 2004.

According to Akom, AFRS 256 attempts to connect hip-hop to social change and activism.

“It is about hip-hop, globalization and the politics of identity,” said Akom. “Students should take away the ability to think globally but act locally.”

“Inventos,” is Fantauzzi’s first full-length film after graduating from the Tish School of the Arts at New York University where he received a bachelor’s degree in film. It has been a long journey for Fantauzzi who lost everything, including all of his original footage for the film, in a house fire. But luckily, the footage was restored and after three years of hard work the film debuted in Havana.

“It is called ‘Inventos,’ because it is making something out of nothing. That is why it had to be done by me,” said Fantauzzi, 28. “Inventos is making a lot out of little, and being resourceful. There is a lack of resources in Cuba because the world has Cuba in a chokehold forcing it to change and it is affecting the economy over there.”

Fantauzzi follows some of the pioneers of Cuba’s hip-hop movement as they live, sleep and breathe hip-hop music. The film includes live performances from groups like Anonimo Consejo (Anonymous Advice) as they travel abroad for the first time ever to perform in New York.

The film also features the trio Orishas, one of the few rap groups from Cuba to make it big. Orishas received a Grammy nomination this year for best Latin Rock/Alternative album. However, there has been some controversy surrounding the Orishas, who left Cuba and moved to Spain. Some say they have forgotten their roots now that they are making money and are not giving back to the community.

“I think hip-hop is continuing to evolve and change and what we want to do is make sure that it continues to be connected to marginalization, community empowerment, and making a difference in people’s everyday lives,” said Akom.

AFRS 256 students have recently finished a chapter on globalization and transnationalism, and are currently reading about hip-hop in Cuba – a country that actually co-ops the expressive culture of hip-hop because the majority, if not all of hip-hop music in Cuba, is conscious hip-hop. “Cuban hip-hop is about revolution and political change and for these reasons Cubanos feel very marginalized by the (United States),” said Akom.

Danae Martinez, 31, said she grew up on hip-hop and fell in love with it immediately, which is why she decided to enroll in AFRS 256. Martinez was one of the students who where able to view the film on Thursday evening.

“We have the power as African Americans to influence the entire world with our hip-hop, so I really like the idea of using hip-hop as a tool for social change,” said Martinez, an Africana studies major at SF State. “The film was excellent and more documentaries like these should be made.”

Fantauzzi is currently working on a film entitled “Home Grown: Hip-Hop in Ghana." He tracks a fairly new movement that combines traditional West African music with hip-hop.

“This is the culture I was raised in,” said Fantauzzi. “My first hip-hop show was Grand Master Flash. I’ve been in this since I can remember, so anywhere I go in the world that is the community I link with. It’s only natural that I want to represent these people.”

For more information on Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi and his film “Inventos: Hip-Hop Cubanos,” visit www.clenchedfistproductions.com.