Asian Americans in Hip-Hop: From Immigration to Influence
In conjunction with the VMHC's new We The People: The World In Our Commonwealth exhibition, the Virginia Hip-Hop Foundation will host a Culture Talk to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Virginia’s history of immigration, specifically immigrants from Asian countries, has direct connections to the state’s significance in Hip-Hop culture.
This event will be an interactive conversation about the history, impact, and influence Asian Americans from Virginia have contributed to Hip-Hop. Special guests featured at the event are below:
Joseph Patel: Indian American Academy Award, Peabody, Grammy, and BAFTA-winning filmmaker. He produced Summer of Soul (...Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised), directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, and their follow-up film, SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius). Joseph began his career as a music and culture journalist, later producing and directing television, music videos and commercials for MTV, Vice Media, Vevo, The Fader and more.
NOAH-O: Artist, producer, entrepreneur, and community activist. NOAH-O’s music explores his identity as a Filipino American and uses Hip-Hop to tell stories of perseverance, blending art and purpose.
Intalek: An active representative of the Filipino American community in Hampton Roads, Intalek is a creative entrepreneur and Hip-Hop artist. He is immersed in and influenced by the dynamic musical landscape of Virginia and the state’s rich musical heritage.
Cymandye Russell: A music industry veteran and lifelong creative, her love for arts, music, and culture is influenced by her Thai and African American heritage.
MG: An Oakland native, MG is a Hip-Hop artist and entrepreneur who draws inspiration from his Chinese and African American heritage. His confident raps, powered by his resilience, have him making waves in Virginia and other parts of the East Coast.
Mundane: Born in the Philippines and raised in Woodbridge, Virginia, Mundane’s music touches on his experiences navigating cultures growing up as an immigrant in the DMV.
We are happy to announce that this will be sponsored in part by Dominion Energy!
We also thank our community partners, the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce and the Asian American Society of Central Virginia.
Don’t miss Mama Vicky’s Lumpia and Filipino Cuisine Food Truck outside before the event!
Purchase tickets here.
Pricing:
• VMHC Members - $10
• Non-Members - $12
Women's History Month at VMHC
Hip-Hop culture is one of the biggest influences on modern American society. Today’s creations in music, art, fashion, and popular culture all can be connected to elements of hip-hop.
Hip-Hop as a music genre and industry can be very much perceived as a male dominant space, but the impact of women throughout the history of hip-hop has been significant. Specifically, women from Virginia have been instrumental in the hip-hop community for decades.
To celebrate women’s history month, join the Virginia Hip-Hop Foundation and the VMHC for an interactive conversation about the influences, experiences, and impact women from Virginia have had in hip-hop. Special guests for the event are below:
The Lady of Rage: A rapper, singer and actress from Farmville, VA who is best known for her collaborations with artists like Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg as well as acting roles in ‘Next Friday’ and ‘The Steve Harvey Show.’
Farrah Fawx: A Virginia-raised recording artist, songwriter, television personality and cultural voice exploring the intersections of rap, electronic music,
and immersive expression.Mikki Spencer: A pioneer in Virginia radio, the first African American woman program director at WKIE, the first AM rap station in Central Virginia.
June Jones: A music industry veteran with two decades of experience in marketing, promotions, and community engagement.
Justice R.: A rising star in the music scene in Richmond, VA
Dr. KáLyn Coghill: an interdisciplinary scholar, award-winning activist, practitioner, and educator.
We are happy to announce that this will be sponsored in part by Dominion Energy!
Purchase tickets HERE.
Pricing:
• VMHC Members - $10
• Non-Members - $12
Virginia Music's Biggest Night: Grammy Watch Party
Due to an abundance of caution we are unfortunately cancelling our Grammy Sunday Events. We were preparing to welcome guests from all over the state but many are still dealing with lingering effects of the snow storm from last week. With more snow and extremely cold temperatures forecasted to be on the way, we thought it would be best to cancel our in-person events. You can request a refund through EventBrite or we can convert your ticket purchase to a donation to the Virginia Hip-Hop Foundation’s General Fund.
We still want to celebrate this moment with members of the music and arts community in Virginia. Please join us for a Virtual Toast to celebrate Virginia before the start of the Grammy’s. Our virtual celebration will also include a Silent Auction featuring items from local artists, museums, and more. Please visit the link below to access the virtual event and the silent auction
You can also download ARTivities coloring sheets for your kids at www.virginiahiphopfoundation.org/artivities
Thank you for your support.
ARTivities
Due to an abundance of caution we are unfortunately cancelling our Grammy Sunday Events. We were preparing to welcome guests from all over the state but many are still dealing with lingering effects of the snow storm from last week. With more snow and extremely cold temperatures forecasted to be on the way, we thought it would be best to cancel our in-person events. You can request a refund through EventBrite or we can convert your ticket purchase to a donation to the Virginia Hip-Hop Foundation’s General Fund.
We still want to celebrate this moment with members of the music and arts community in Virginia. Please join us for a Virtual Toast to celebrate Virginia before the start of the Grammy’s. Our virtual celebration will also include a Silent Auction featuring items from local artists, museums, and more. Please visit the links below to access the virtual event and the silent auction.
Virtual Event
Silent Auction
You can also download ARTivities coloring sheets for your kids at www.virginiahiphopfoundation.org/artivities
Pen Game: A Conversation About Writing in Hip-Hop
Join the Virginia Hip-Hop Foundation, Virginia State Institute for Hip-Hop and Cultural Studies, and special guests for a night of community and culture to celebrate Hip-Hop History Month. The event titled ‘Pen Game: A Conversation About Writing in Hip-Hop’ will feature Virginia Hip-Hop Legends, Mad Skillz and Nickelus F.
Admission is free for current VSU students and staff with valid ID at the door.
Tickets for the general public are $10 at https://vsu-hip-hop-history.eventbrite.com
This event is made possible by the Virginia State University Office of the Provost, The College of Humanities & Social Sciences, The Department of Music, and Shanara Productions.
For community partner or corporate sponsorship inquiries email info@virginiahiphopfoundation.org.
To make a donation to the foundation, please visit https://www.virginiahiphopfoundation.org/donate