Hip Hop News That Isn't About Dumb Sh*t

Plus upcoming dope interdisciplinary event dates, CFPs, and more

Apr 09, 2025

☮️ Hello again friends, neighbors, supporters, and haters!

First, R.I.P. Jemini The Gifted One, Young Scooter, Pow Wow, Bishop Brigante, and G. 🕊️

In light of that — and other ongoing global and national sad news — I think I’m overdue to share some inspiring, innovative, and insightful stories about Hip Hop. My latest hand-curated picks below, plus dates for important, upcoming interdisciplinary Hip Hop events.

Quick reminders:

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Jump in our Discord server. We share music, we share resources, we have intellectual Hip Hop discourse — It’s like this newsletter but always on.

NJ-area friends, come see me this Friday at the HHYRA conference, and then DJing the after-party, and on Saturday at the SVG open mic / art share, and DJing THAT after-party, all alongside the good homie, Silent Knight.

🙏 Thank you to our newest supporters, Jennifer M., Red Summer and Murray F.! If you’re able to, upgrade to paid to help me keep this thing going and growing!

Other than that, let’s get into it!

📰 HIP HOP NEWS THAT ISN’T ABOUT DUMB SH*T

(This section brought to you by our brand new DISCORD COMMUNITY! Click to join the ongoing conversations!)

🍽️ Tasting menus and expletives: When fine dining meets hip-hop
BONUS: 🗣️ JOIN OUR ARTICLE DISCUSSION ON OUR DISCORD
🧠 Hip-Hop Education and Neurodivergent Learners (co-authored by our very own super-supporter, Andrew Wang!)
🎶 Raise up: Petey Pablo anthem to North Carolina proposed as state hip-hop song
📷 In “Straight Loops, Light & Soul,” a project evoking Roy DeCarava’s Harlem jazz pictures and the music of J Dilla, Williams captures the underground beat-maker scene of New York City.
🕺 The Hip Hop Homies provide an inclusive dance space for people with Down syndrome
📺 Meet the Vallejo hip-hop artist behind the 2025 San Francisco Giants anthem (Hint: It’s LaRussell)
📖 Professor’s Book on Influence of Hip-Hop DJs Wins Awards
BONUS: 📺 Related: My interview with the author, Dr. Todd Craig
🤔 Art or ad? How The Birthplace of Hip Hop became the focus of legal feud
🎶 More than a Sample Size: The Legacy of Funk Music in Hip-Hop
⚖️ Sound Engineer for Eminem Stole and Sold His Songs for Bitcoin, U.S. Says
🎤 Flau'Jae Johnson rap career: LSU women's basketball star is accomplished hip-hop artist
📹 Interview with Video Music Box’s Ralph McDaniels

📢 OMGOMGOMG! It’s almost here, Hip Hop Can Save America! the book!! Those who have been paying attention have seen me tease that my debut book is due to be published next month. Some more info here if you’re really curious, but stay tuned for pre-order date and other updates.

I am currently booking keynote speaking engagements and media appearances in support of the book, so if you are or know someone who can help with any of that, please message me and I’ll give you more info.

📅 INTERDISCIPLINARY HIP HOP EVENTS & IMPORTANT DATES

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DEADLINES, CALLS FOR PAPERS/PRESENTATIONS/ETC.

DUE JULY 15: CFP - Global Hip Hop Studies Journal

UPCOMING EVENTS

April 10 [Skyline College, CA]: Rock The School Bells
* April 11 [Rutgers-NJ]: Hip Hop Youth Research and Activism Conference
* April 11 [New Brunswick, NJ] HHYRA Conference After-Party
April 15 [Charlotte]: Women in Hip-Hop: The Un-Conference Featuring Joan Morgan
April 15 [Charlotte]: JCSU Cultural Studies Presents: An Evening with Rapsody
April 18-19 [Hartford, CT]: The Trinity International Hip Hop Festival
April 22-25 [NYC]: Teachers, bring your class to Word.Sound.Power at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
April 26 [Auburn]: Auburn Hip Hop Congress Earth Day Festival
April 30 [Rutgers-NJ]: Dr. Lauren Kelly talk: Drawing from Hip Hop and Youth Popular Culture in ELA Instruction and Assessment
May 31 [San Diego]: Show & Prove Hip Hop Studies Conference (Call for proposals now open through Feb. 28)
June 6-7 [NYC]: #HipHopEd Conference (Call for proposals now open through Mar. 24)
* June 20 [ATL]: Panel discussion (ft. Skyzoo, Manny Faces) “Crafting The Culture: The Dynamic Intersection of Hip Hop & Craft Beverages” - Part of the 2025 Crafted for Action Craft Beer Conference
June 27 - 29 [ATL]: Hip Hop Congress International Hip Hop Conference
Oct. 11 [L.A.]: Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final
November [D.C.]: Third Annual Hip Hop Studies Conference at Howard University (More info to come)
March 18-21, 2026 [Netherlands]: European Hip Hop Studies Conference 9.0

( Manny Faces will be there!)*

KNOW OF AN EVENT THAT SHOULD GO HERE? TELL ME!!

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