FIELD NOTES: Kendrick vs. Jay-Z; WTF HipHopDX?; Hip Hop x SEL; Minnesota
Plus, upcoming Hip Hop conferences and interdisciplinary events
☮️ Peace and love to friends, neighbors, supporters, and haters! So much going on in the country. 😔 Hope folks are home, safe and warm, but on the other hand, it’s looking more and more important for us to be alert, active, and in some cases, outside and in the streets. (Some info on that below as well.)
This is officially my BDay week (#131) so if you want a way to help me continue being able to do this work, consider becoming a paid supporter! 🎁
Here’s my latest dispatch of Hip Hop and related/other things as I see them:
👀 WHAT I’M NOTICING
1) Too much snow, ice, and ICE; 2) More state-sanctioned murders.
(For those wanting info to help re: Minnesota, here’s a comprehensive resource guide/list.)
🤔 WHAT I’M THINKING
I was asked to provide some insight regarding the upcoming GRAMMYs, particularly whether or not Kendrick Lamar will surpass Jay-Z’s total count of 25 (he only needs 4 of his 9 noms to do so).
The debates over if the GRAMMYs should matter for rap or how well the GRAMMYs have treated rap — traditionally as well as in recent years — will go on forever, as will discussions about whether or not Kendrick is an award show favorite because he consistently delivers the best product, or — as I hinted at in my comments — he is also the “safe choice” for GRAMMY voters who might be less familiar or tuned in to the nuance of Black music, particularly rap.
I’m certainly not denying his talent or impact at all!! To Pimp A Butterfly, DAMN., “Not Like Us,” — 10000% worthy of their GRAMMY wins if you ask me (and yes, good kid, m.A.A.d city was robbed). Still, I can’t ignore what I hear echoing across rap music’s discourse this year, with so many folks saying:
“Honestly, Clipse should win rap album of the year, but we all know Kendrick will.”
What do you think?
📖 WHAT I’M READING
Dr Stacey Patton drops prolific, no holds barred cultural and political commentary (and epic clapbacks to detractors) that I fux with very much. Her Substack, Dr. Stacey Patton, is atop my list of daily reads.
🎧 WHAT I’M LISTENING TO
Homeboy Sandman. Ari Lennox. Raina Simone. Sault.
📺 WHAT I’M WATCHING
Me! Well, the Hip Hop Can Save America! YouTube channel anyway. Not-so-shameless plug in case you missed my last interview (or any of them!). Here’s A.I. telling you why you should watch the last episode with educator and author, David Spellmon.
This conversation with David Spellmon is a sharp reminder that Hip Hop isn’t just culturally meaningful — it’s instructionally powerful. Whether you work in education, mental health, media, leadership, or just care about where the culture is headed, this interview offers a rare, grounded breakdown of how Hip Hop can build emotional intelligence, self-awareness, resilience, and communication in real-world settings. It’s not surface-level praise or nostalgia — it’s practical insight into how culture becomes a tool for growth, healing, and learning. If you care about Hip Hop’s deeper value, and you want thinking you won’t get from mainstream outlets, this one’s worth your time.
Well then. Nicely said A.I.! Humans, check it out, subscribe, like, share, do all the things! 🙏
🫶 SOMETHING I LOVE
🍨 Rocky Road ice cream.
😠 SOMETHING I LOVE NOT
Apparently, the “Hip Hop media” site HipHopDX.com has unceremoniously deleted years worth of content from its site, based on what I’ve seen from several past contributors:
All of which is to say, if you are a writer published on online outlets that you do not own — particularly if you are a writer of color or you write about non-white centered issues of race, culture, justice, the arts, etc. — make sure you are archiving your work. Especially Hip Hop. As I responded to Paul Meara:
[It’s] a reminder that so many of these outlets don't care about the people and the culture they profit from, reinforcing the urgent need for all of us to support the good folks doing Hip Hop archival work who are of -- and truly for -- the culture.
It’s not the first time, and won’t be the last. For instance, I previously covered similarly disappointing treatment of the DatPiff mixtape archives, which are, for all intents and purposes, gone.
So yea. Disappointing. But not surprising. Unfortunately.
It should be noted, however, that HipHopDx.com, Uproxx, Dime Magazine and other media assets were recently sold by Warner Music Group to a new company, UPROXX Studios, formed by Jarret Myer (former CEO of Uproxx), Rich Antoniello (founder and ex-CEO of Complex), and will.i.am (who you should already know), the latter of which is the studio’s “chief visionary officer.
Oh! And HipHopDX.com’s editorial head is the self-appointed (don’t get me started) “G.O.A.T. of Hip Hop journalism,” Elliott Wilson. Sigh.
This part of that linked article was interesting:
In his position, the company said will.i.am will bring “his star power, Futurism and tech expertise.” The company will also partner with software company FYI to use AI technology and FYI radio. FYI’s AI-powered platform will have its own vertical within UPROXX Studios.
So… Kill off human content to make way for AI slop? Got it.
Not very G.O.A.T.-like vision there Williot, if you ask me. 🤷
Anyway, I sent a quick LinkedIn message to Mr. Myer requesting comment. I’ll update y’all if I hear anything (I probably won’t).
Just more to consider as we go through life and (hopefully) think more about supporting the outlets and content creators that truly care about the culture, and pull away from those who clearly don’t.
On that note…
📰 A POLITICAL STORY YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF
🤔 U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz demanding the state take three specific actions before federal immigration agents would consider reducing their presence in Minneapolis, including handing over voter rolls.
Says one Redditor: “So they are conducting a campaign to terrorize residents to achieve a political goal. Is there a word for this?” To which someone replied, “Yes. Terrorism.”
And another: “It was never about immigration.”
📅 HIP HOP INTERDISCIPLINARY EVENT CALENDAR
I’ll be keynoting or presenting at a BUNCH of these (look for the *)! If you want to talk about booking me for your event, just reply to this newsletter.
Also, if you have an event that should go here, please reply and let me know.
Through February 25: New York University’s Gallatin Galleries
‘Digital Twinz: Hip-Hop Futurism, Archives, and Algorythms’ - An “immersive exploration of hip-hop culture”
February 5: Fashion Institute of Technology [NYC]
Fly Girls: Women, Hip Hop, and the Power of Style
Fireside chat with Jamel Shabazz + panel discussion with Nadirah Simmons, April Walker, Toni Grant, Shara McHayle and moderated by Elena Romero
* February 5 & 7: The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership at Kalamazoo College
“Hip Hop Can Save America!”
Book talk and community discussions/performances
February 14, 2026: Dilla Day L.A.
Celebrating the life and legacy of J. Dilla, on the 20th anniversary of his passing.
* February 21, 2026: UMass Amherst College of Education
Black AF (Artistic Freedom) Conference
TV OFF: Hip-Hop as the Revolution for Critical Conversations and Resistance to Conform [Registration open]
March 4, 2026: Berklee College of Music
Fifth Annual International Hip-Hop Symposium
* March 18-21: Groningen (The Netherlands)
European Hip Hop Studies Conference
“Things Done Changed”: Hip Hop Futures for a World on Fire
* April 9-13, 2026: Trinity College, CT
20th Trinity International Hip Hop Festival
April 9, 2026: Skyline College, San Bruno, CA
Rock The School Bells [Workshop call for proposals now open]
November 13-15, 2026: Howard University
4th Annual Hip Hop Studies Conference (Recap of 2025 conference)
* means I’ll be presenting!
📺: WATCH MY TEDx TALK!
📖: READ MY BOOK!
🎧: LISTEN TO THE HHCSA! PODCAST
📺: WATCH THE HHCSA! YOUTUBE CHANNEL
💬: JOIN THE HHCSA! DISCORD CHANNEL!
🙏: Support this work by becoming a paid subscriber below or on Patreon if you prefer.
Talk more soon.
~Manny