In this talk, artist and educator Toni Blackman artfully weaves universal life principles with the Hip Hop aesthetic. Drawing from the transformative power of Cypher gatherings, she offers enriching insights applicable to all, regardless of background or artistic inclinations. With wisdom gleaned from over two decades of organizing Cypher events, Toni presents refreshing perspectives on self-love and personal growth. Her lifetime dedication to arts, education, and Hip Hop culture, combined with a global spiritual and professional journey, inspires profound self-reflection. She goes beyond the surface of what’s on television and the radio, and rap stereotypes.
This event will also feature Hip Hop artist DJ LiKWUiD and special guest MC Yan, a pioneer of Hip Hop culture in Hong Kong.
Speakers: Toni Blackman, DJ LiKWUiD, and MC Yan
Moderator: Tim Gruenewald
Date: 23 September 2024 (Monday)
Time: 5:30PM - 7:30PM
Venue: HKU CPD-LG.07, Centennial Campus
Free Admission
About the artists
Toni Blackman is an award-winning artist whose steadfast work and commitment to hip hop led the U.S. State Department to select her as an American Cultural Specialist and one of the first Hip Hop Envoys. She has traveled to around 50 countries performing, speaking and teaching. Heavily influenced by the spiritual jazz movement of the 1970s, Toni has an extensive catalogue of inspirational hip-hop and a series of Meditation Mixtapes. She has shared the stage with artists including Erykah Badu, Mos Def, The Roots, Wu Tang Clan, GURU, Bahamadia, Boot Camp Clik, Me’Shell NdegeoCello, Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Jill Sobule, and Rickie Lee Jones. As a visionary, Toni founded Freestyle Union, a cypher workshop that uses freestyling as a tool to encourage social responsibility, and Rhyme Like a Girl, an initiative that empowers and nurtures women MCs as hip-hop ambassadors/educators. Her most recent book, Wisdom of the Cypher, illustrates the transformational aspects of her work.
DJ LiKWUiD, born Faybeo'n LaShanna A Mickens, is an award-winning hip hop fusion artivist, DJ, songwriter, music curator and educator. Her style of djing is based around blending beats together as one tapestry of sound. Afrobeats, Hip Hop, Rare Grooves, Reggae, House and live remixes are often incorporated in her live DJ sets. DJ LiKWUiD is the co-founder of Banjee Boombox, a QTBIPOC festival collective that centers the voices of women, non-binary and queer musicians. She is committed to using her creativity to empower the marginalized communities.
MC Yan is a pioneer of HIP HOP culture in Hong Kong. He is the lead vocalist of the legendary band LMF, a songwriter for Eason Chan's "3CORNERZ" project, and a founding member of the independent label Yellow Peril.
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