Fres Thao

Fres Thao is an advocate for the arts, believing art is direct energy from the soul. As a poet and hip hop pioneer of the Hmong American community, he has been an active lyricist, performer, producer, and mentor since the early 1990s. A founding member of the nationally dispersed hip hop group Illegoaliens, Fres has released over seven albums, mixtapes, and compilations, including his recent album Mind Full Of. He was a recipient of a 2011 Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative grant, accessing funds to create Mind Full Of—the first full-length, Hmong, hip hop vinyl record album.
Fres is the Executive Director for the Center for Hmong Arts & Talent and freelances as a creative writing instructor, arts consultant, and mentor for organizations such as Essential Sessions Studios and the Loft Literary Center.