IHX works to strengthen the capacity of artists, cultural workers, arts institutions and global youth communities to create and produce hip hop art and culture. IHX understands "hip-hop" to incorporate the full range of visual and performance art forms, including dance, music, theatre, multimedia painting and sculpture, poetry and rhyming. This particular style of communication is envisioned as a means of sharing information and expressing ideas about various development issues that impact young people and other listeners - in an entertaining and engaging way.

To this end, IHX produces cross-cultural concerts, organises educational and cultural tours, disseminates artist development and technical support opportunities, and promotes artist-to-artist contact and collaboration across international borders. IHX is devoted to supporting young people, in particular, as they express themselves through hip hop.

IHX is particularly committed to bringing outstanding hip hop artists to and from less celebrated communities in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa. Partnership with various local organisations is a key tool here for bringing messages - through the medium of hip hop - to young people in universities and to citizens of all walks of life. To cite a few examples of these intercultural communication-centred events: In 2001, Cuban artists visited New York City for month-long residency. In 2004, several Mexico City artists participated in a 5-city artist residency tour. In addition, IHX - in collaboration with Sector Lucido (Mexico City) - presented excerpts from Danny Hoch's Jails, Hospitals, and Hip-Hop in a bilingual format for a 2-day run at El Foro Cultural Coyoacanense.

Youth, Intercultural Communication.