It's time for TED + important Hip Hop conference dates
👋 Hi to all my friends, neighbors, supporters, and haters!
I’m nervous. 😬
Tomorrow is my first TEDx talk! 🔴
I’m sure I’ll be fine. It’s a good talk. I’ve been rehearsing. I’ve put in the work. And it’s been a super interesting, fun, and now — a day away — thoroughly nerve-wracking experience.
I’m very excited however, for the opportunity to share some of the insights that we’ve seen in this newsletter, my podcast, and YouTube channel, and give a new audience an idea just how many brilliant people are out here creating a better world through authentic, caring, creative intersections with Hip Hop culture.
From educators, to mental health professionals, to community leaders, and more, when I say “Hip Hop can save America!” it’s because those people really make me believe it.
So, I am working feverishly to be fully ready to share some of the remarkable things that Hip Hop has been able to do to improve lives, livelihoods, and communities on the TEDx stage, and I am honored to have been given the chance to represent the culture with the respect and reverence it deserves.
I’ll let you know how it goes! Then, it should be a few weeks before it hits their YouTube channel so you can all see it. You’ll be the first to know.
Before I list some important information about several upcoming Hip Hop conferences — including a couple that I’ll be keynoting or participating in — I just want to point out my two latest YouTube essays. One is urgent, and a bit terrifying, while the other is a bit more uplifting. Both are certainly worth your time. Please give them a listen, a like, a subscribe (if you’re not already), and a share.
Trump, PragerU, and the Attack on Education -- and How Hip Hop Can Fight Back
What Freestyle Rappers Can Teach Us About Building a Better World
Oh, and consider picking up a copy of perhaps the most important Hip Hop book of our time.
UPCOMING HIP HOP CONFERENCES AND DOPE INTERDISCIPLINARY EVENTS
I know I might be leaving some out. I’m usually way more on top of things, but prepping for a TED talk takes up a lot of time and brainspace. If you have an event that should go here, please reply to this message and let me know, I’ll be happy to include it in the next newsletter.
* September 27: TEDxBuckheadAve - Atlanta
One night. Many voices. A shared vision. Join us for TEDxBuckheadAve: The Power of We — an immersive, cinematic TEDx experience produced inside the stunning MODEx Studio black-box theater.
October 4-9: Cape Town, SA
October 6-12: Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga Hip Hop Week & Summit
October 9-12: NYC
International Indigenous Hip-Hop Fest 2025
October 15: NYC
The Hip Hop Museum Annual Benefit Gala
* October 17-19: UNC Charlotte
To The Beat Y’all: A Hip Hop Symposium
Alternate Link
The Resistance, Power, and Voice of Hip Hop
The symposium is designed to create a dynamic platform for dialogue, collaboration, and education, addressing essential questions about Hip Hop’s role as a catalyst for social change and empowerment. Through thought-provoking discussions, dynamic performances, and interactive sessions, the event explores the transformative power of Hip Hop in shaping culture, identity, and activism. The symposium fosters a deeper understanding of how Hip Hop challenges societal norms, inspires change, and amplifies voices that drive innovation, justice, and community engagement by bringing together artists, educators, scholars, and community members.
[FUN FACT: I’ll be the keynote speaker!]
OCTOBER 18: Delaware Art Museum
Third Annual HipHop Cultural Summit: Hip Hop’s Impact On Race and Culture
October 21: Stockton, CA
Is Hip Hop America’s Biggest Success Story?
Part of the 2025 California Economic Summit.
* November 14-16: Howard University
3rd Annual Hip Hop Studies Conference
Respect The Technique - Hip Hop and Technology
Call for submissions is open until Sept. 30
This year, we’re exploring the intersection of Hip-Hop & Technology. Join us for 3 days of insightful panels and interactive workshops. Connect with fellow Hip-Hop heads, artists, industry professionals, and academics passionate about the intersection of music and technology. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to explore how technology is shaping the future of Hip-Hop culture.
* means I’ll be presenting …
Thanks again! Join our Discord channel! Pray I don’t mess up my TED talk! Please support this work by becoming a paid subscriber here or on Patreon if you prefer.
Talk more soon.
~Manny