Pacman and Peso. Via Kickstarter.

While Dennis Rodman is back in North Korea to “see [his] friend,” dictator Kim Jong-un, two young rappers from Congress Heights and Landover, Md. want to make a trip to the country to film a music video.

According to a Kickstarter page to fund the trip and video, rappers Pacman, 18, and Peso, 19, are looking to create “buzz” about their music careers by traveling to the country. They are being assisted by Ramsey Aburdene, co-founder of local music label Forest Hills Tenleytown Music Group, and his friend Michael Basset, an Army veteran who would lead the trip with “budget North Korea tour operator” Young Pioneer Tours.

If the the rappers make it to North Korea, the “music video will be shot on a karaoke party bus in Pyongyang.”

Many people think it is just not feasible to shoot a rap music video in North Korea. This would be true if we were just going in with no plan. On the contrary, however, every aspect of the trip has been planned well in advance. Michael Basset has established himself as an actor in North Korean affairs with a focus on cultural diplomacy. He has organized events with music, dance, and sports previously in North Korea before and knows the appropriate parties to coordinate with to organize or get clearances for such events.

And what about North Korea’s atrocious human rights record?

Another issue that often comes up when I discuss this trip with people is that North Korea is a repressive state with prison camps, a starving population, and other human rights issues. My reply is that this is a 100% civilian trip attended by people of various nationalities that in no way endorses any government, policy, ideology, etc. Everybody on the trip is strongly against human rights violations anywhere in the world but unfortunately it is difficult to know the extent of human rights violations in North Korea due to its isolation. If anything, our trip will promote positive interactions between North Korea and the international community and help to ease tensions, which is sorely needed before any type of political solutions can hope to be reached.

Thus far, $610 of the $6,000 goal has been raised. The fundraising deadline is September 29.