Signs of the Times: Finland’s Signmark Brings Sign Language to Hip Hop

Finnish rapper Signmark will be performing at the Kennedy Center’s Nordic Cool festival on February 26th.

From the Kennedy Center website:

“Creator of the world’s first sign language hip hop DVD, Signmark (aka Marko Vuoriheimo) has been performing around the world for more than a decade, touring such countries as Japan, the United States, Iceland, Spain, Ethiopia, and Namibia.  Leaping onto the international stage when asked to represent Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006, Signmark became the first deaf person to be signed to a major international recording label.  Strong bass beats with low frequencies help Signmark adapt to rap and hip hop rhythms and vocalist Brandon Bauer joins Signmark on his albums, videos, and performances.”‘

The video above is for the song “Speakerbox,” Signmark’s entry during the qualifying rounds of the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest.