A Conference to Celebrate & Elevate the Power of Hip Hop (in) Education
Held at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
PERFORMERS
From dance to rhymes to spoken word, this year features incredible performers -- youth and adults -- who are keeping Hip Hop lit for the present and future.
DEAFINITELY CREW
Dance
DEAFinitely, Inc., is a non- profit organization that serves Deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, deaf-disabled and hearing youth representing multi-lingual, cultural, racial, and socio-economic diversity. DEAFinitely creates meaningful opportunities for youth to learn about themselves, their community and the world through the medium of dance, the performing arts, mentoring and American Sign Language. DEAFinitely, Inc. is founded by Jamie Robinson. Felicia McGinnis is the Assistant Director of Dance and John Ying is the Crew's BBoy Coach.
ROWDY
MC
Kevin “Rowdy” Rowsey is a National Recording Artist, Writer, Actor, and Educator based in North Carolina. Rowdy has been featured on BET, NPR, and is an actor/host on PBS Kids. Rowsey is a U.S. Hip Hop Ambassador through the U.S. Department of State and the Next Level Hip Hop Program. On stage Rowsey has been nominated three times for a Carolina Music Award, and has been able to share the stage with the likes of Busta Rhymes, Rakim, Ari Lennox, Snow Tha Product ,and a plethora of other national recording acts. He holds the position of Program Director at the Downtown Durham – Afrofuturist Teen Center Blackspace. While studying the intersectionality’s of Hip Hop and Education through UNC Greensboro’s PhD program, Rowsey continues his mission to spread southern hip hop at a national and international level through performance, writing and educational workshops that inspire the culture through the craft.
MOVELIKEZAY
Dance
Isiah “MoveLikeZay” is a dedicated dancer, choreographer, and Teacher born and raised in Boston, MA. He has over 15 yrs of experience in the dance/ entertainment industry ranging from community event to movies, music videos, artist development, and touring. He has taught for many years to students of all ages, levels, and backgrounds , which has made his open “WedneZay” class one of Boston’s most sought after classes. His classes are open to everyone and he strives to inspire everyone that walks through the door to dance with freedom, confidence, and passion.
UNLEARN THE WORLD
MC
As a product of Hip Hop’s Golden Era and Late 90s New York underground scene, Rapper, Songwriter and Producer UnLearn The World has seen it all in a career that spans 3 decades of the culture. Having shared stages with legends like Wu Tang, Rakim, KRS one and more contemporary acts like Jay Electronica and Griselda, he has blended worlds of the old school and the new school in order to create his “True School” stylish yet substantive brand of lyricism. As a Hip Hop Educator based in the Bay Area, he is the Education Director of the non Profit Hip Hop For Change, an adjunct professor at Holy Names University and teaches classes and facilitates workshops in traditional classroom settings as well as Juvenile detention centers. He has also been tapped as a program consultant for Facebook (Meta) and his work has been featured in many publications from the SF Chronicle to The Source Magazine. His latest album CROWNS has been featured in Genius and was named of the top 50 albums of 2021 by Fantastic Hip Hop Blog.
IRIE GIVENS & THATMINORITYKID
MC
A prominent leader in their field, Drew Carlyle is always seeking to break new ground and share their knowledge. This year, Drew Carlyle will be our opening speaker, in addition to chairing several talks.
HARVARD EXPRESSIONS
Dance
Harvard University's own community dance company.
MOSTTURNTNERD
MC
MC, Educator, Artist | HGSE '22
RANDY MASON
MC
Randy Mason is a NYC emcee and art educator from the Bronx. As a father, husband, recording artist and teaching artist, Ran draws from a deep well of unique & diverse experiences to tell stories through songs-engaging audiences of all kinds, in a way that is real, relevant, meaningful and memorable. Randy is also the founder of R.H.Y.M.E Rhymes help young minds excel a Hip Hop music and mentoring youth program
KIDS BREAKING LEAGUE
Dance
The Kids Breaking League was founded in 2016 by Victor “Kid Glyde” Alicea of the legendary Dynamic Rockers. The KBL is comprised of a community of certified coaches from dance programs across the Tri-State area, who introduce the future generation to the history and culture of breaking. Breaking is an art form that celebrates individuality. Kids develop their own style through dance, build confidence and form lifelong friendship. Sanctioned by UDEF and the Silverback Open, the goal of the Kids Breaking League is to expand across the country and give young breakers a platform to grow and compete on the high level.
RACHARD DENNIS
Poet
27 year old poet-teacher-rapper Rachard is up next and ready to change the world. The Bossier native represents for his community and his culture, providing bars to uplift and rhymes to make you think. Rachard draws inspiration from a variety of musical genres to tell his story; historically Black art forms such as hip hop, gospel, jazz, neo-soul, and the blues all lend to his sonic profile. His brand, For The LO., is tatted on his arm and on his heart; for the burgeoning artist, For The LO. encompasses a movement of like-minded friends and family, all hoping to leave their musical mark on the world.
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PINY RING
MC
Pinqy Ring is a Puerto Rican rapper, author, speaker and Hip Hop educator born and bred in Chicago. She is a proud U.S. Hip Hop Cultural Ambassador, traveling overseas to manage and facilitate Hip Hop diplomacy programming. Outside of music, Pinqy hosts workshops and talks with youth and Universities nationwide. She became an author in 2020, penning her story for the second volume of Today’s Inspired Young Latina, and plays Rosina in The Rosina Project - a Hip Hop iteration of the famed opera The Barber of Seville. She is the recipient of several awards and accolades, but Pinqy's most important prize is the legacy she is leaving for all the historically excluded communities of the world. A Latina artist on the rise, Pinqy Ring shines bright with the determination to share her story while encouraging others to find their truth, live in it unapologetically, and tell it authentically.
DYNAMIC ROCKERS
Dance
Dynamic Rockers is a legendary Breaking crew from 1978 that has passed down the knowledge of different generations to the current scene. Helping to introduce the art of Breaking to the world in the early 80s, Dynamic continues to keep with tradition as well as evolve the art form through its newer members as it continues to work with the youth of today's community.
10K MOVEMENT
Dance
10K Movement provides first-hand access to the cultural and kinesthetic knowledge of Street Dance forms, and opportunities for young artists to showcase their craft. Through education, performance, events, and consulting, 10K is a platform serving Cleveland, Ohio and beyond, leveraging different community partnerships in service of our long-term vision to implement a more equitable Street Dance infrastructure. The name 10K is inspired by Malcom Gladwell’s 10,000-hour rule, the idea that it takes hours and hours of well-intentioned practice to truly hone a skill, and that each Street Dance genre requires the same amount of dedication as any other art form or viable discipline.
URBAN WORD NYC
Spoken Word
Urban Word NYC elevates youth voices as leaders at the intersection of the literary arts and civic engagement. Through the transformative power of the written and spoken word, Urban Word provides young, creative voices, often those who are marginalized, the tools, training, and platforms to rewrite the narratives that shape their lives and their communities. We provide platforms for critical literacy, youth development and leadership through free and uncensored writing, social impact and performance workshops & opportunities.
THE CAMBRIDGE HIP-HOP COLLECTIVE
MC
he Cambridge Hip-Hop Collective is the host of The Bridgeside Cypher. Aaron King and Jillian Girardin, the lead organizers, have been in the Boston music scene for some years performing as individuals, hosting shows, and producing videos. Using what they have learned, they are creating an ongoing event that encourages artists to focus on their music and work on their craft. The Cambridge Hip-Hop Collective believes providing an outdoor event where artists on the scene can express themselves is very important right now.