Mos Def, perhaps hip-hop's most dedicated high-profile activist, has lent his skills and politically conscious mindset to yet another non-profit organization.

According to One Source Entertainment, the promoters of the first annual Festival for the Elements 2000, the rapper will be performing to benefit Bridgeport, Connecticut's Music and Arts Center for Humanity, or M.A.C.H.

The Festival for the Elements is a three-day affair that will take place throughout Bridgeport, a city which continuously makes the nation's poorest cities list and has long suffered a reputation as a dangerous, decaying and disaffected city.

However, M.A.C.H. has been working to change that image, at least amongst Bridgeport's own residents. According to One Source, M.A.C.H. "is a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and empowerment of Bridgeport's youth through music.

Mos Def will be joined by the Cocoa Brovaz, the Brooklyn rap duo originally known

as Smif-N-Wesson, Masta Ace, and the Lost Boyz, in one of the few appearances since the death of one of their members (see [article id="1431427"]"Lost Boyz's Freaky Tah Shot And Killed In Queens"[/article]). In addition to the festival's hip-hop offerings, there will also be an R&B stage with Atlantic Starr, known for their '80s hit "Secret Lovers," and a Latin music concert featuring singer George Lamond.

Mos Def's participation in the Festival of the Elements adds to his reputation as a community activist. He has been one of this generation's most vocal hip-hop artists, speaking out or working on projects that address police brutality (see "Mos Def Planning Anti-Police Brutality Concert"), breast cancer (see [article id="1432359"]Mos Def, Pharcyde, Others For Breast Cancer Benefit Concert"[/article]), the death row political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal (see [article id="1432357"]Mos Def, Black Thought To Perform At Mumia Benefit"[/article])

and even the Elian Gonzalez saga (see [article id="1432360"]Mos Def Readies New Single, Video"[/article]).

For more information on the Festival of the Elements, contact M.A.C.H. at (203) 366-3300.