The Black AF Conference + Amplifying Minnesota Voices

Two must-see recent and timely interviews

IN THIS EDITION

• Imani “Lyrical Faith” Wallace previewing the Black AF (Artistic Freedom) Conference, Feb. 21 at UMass Amherst

• Keisha “TK” Dutes on her work amplifying straight-from-the-source citizen voices from on the ground in Minneapolis

Peace friends. neighbors, supporters, and haters-who-haven’t-unsubscribed!

I’m about to leave my balmy Atlanta-area for the frozen tundra of Michigan to do a book talk and a couple of community discussions at The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership at Kalamazoo College, as part of their Black History Month programming.

Despite being utterly spoiled by the Southern climate these days, I am honored and humbled to have been asked to participate. If you know anyone close, let them know!

However, for those who aren’t subbed to my YouTube channel (how DARE you!), I wanted to make sure you caught two interviews from this week’s Hip Hop Can Save America! livestream show.

An incredible way to kick off Black History Month, I was honored to be joined by two powerhouse Black women doing incredible work in thier respective fields.

Please take time to watch these interviews and signal boost by liking, commenting, and sharing. Their voices — and the ones they amplify — deserve to be heard, and until the rest of the media world catches on, it’s up to us.

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Hip Hop, Poetry & Power: Lyrical Faith & the Black AF (Artistic Freedom) Conference at UMass Amherst

Dive into the heart of Hip Hop, Black artistry, and activism with this powerful excerpt from the “Hip Hop Can Save America” weekly livestream show, featuring international award-winning spoken word poet, Imani J. Wallace (Lyrical Faith), and host Manny Faces. In this segment, they break down the mission and impact of the Black Artistic Freedom Conference (Black AF) at UMass Amherst (https://www.bit.ly/BLACKAF2026RSVP), a “dynamic experience centering education and activism through the arts.”

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Citizen Reporting in Minneapolis and Hip Hop's Spirit in Journalism: With Keisha "TK" Dutes

Radio and podcast vet Keisha (TK) Dutes is amplifying Minneapolis voices in a way that only she can.

Calling on her network of friends on the ground, she’s using her social media to deliver straight-from-the-sources information to her audiences -- audiences who have been following her for years and have come to know that when TK talks, she’s bringing news you can use.

Check out my conversation with this brilliant media pioneer, inspirational force, and (the best part, for me anyway), friend.

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I’ll be back soon with the usual mix of Hip Hop news that isn’t about dumb sh*t, the world’s best calendar of interdisciplinary Hip Hop events (including some iI’ll be at — NYC, Mass., Ct., EUROPE! and more), plus more Field Notes and Mannyfestos soon.

(And for those that like a personal, behind-the-scenes kind of thing, here! 🫶)

Until next time, peace and love to you and yours.

-M