Rap

Al Lopez is building a communication bridge of friendship between people. Al’s purpose in life is to enlighten and help North Americans develop a deeper understanding of Latino and other cultures moving into the USA and at the same time help newcomers understand the new culture surrounding them.

Al is also known as "Papa Rap," an alias he uses when performing at different area schools, churches and civic organizations. As "Papa Rap" he uses music to help people find common ground to work together as human beings from planet earth. His lyrics focus on the importance of open communication and education and touches people of all ages. The latest on school and community news is broadcasted once a week on Al’s "Papa Reprtes" Radio interventions on La Zeta, 95.7 FM and can be read in his "Papa Reporte" column in La Prensa, a local Spanish newspaper. Some of the topics that he discusses include parental involvement, literacy, scholarships and career development.

He has received many awards and recognition from various organization all trough out the state. Some of these are, the Arkansas education association, The IRS office, the United Way of Rogers, NWA Community Collage, the Lions club of Rogers, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Commission and many others.

Al works and consults with many government, industries and community based organization such as Catholic Immigration, Hispanic Women’s Organization of Arkansas, The Multicultural Center of NWA, Tyson foods, Wall- Mart, The Governors
Office on Minority affairs, Department of the Secretary of State, Department of Education, NWA State Police, Benton County Sheriff department, United Way of Benton and Washington County, AETN, NWACC, The Jones Center, and many more.
Al has produced and written lyrics for proximally 30 bilingual public service announcements for radio and television including one for the Census 2000 campaign that was showed in the four state area.

Al has won four music composition awards with the John Lennon Song Writing Contest including first place in the 1998 Children’s Category, for the "What's Up, Que Pasa" bilingual song about friendship.

He is currently employed by the Springdale School District as the School/Community
Liaison.