Linwood Johnson is a cultural curator whose work bridges the worlds of academia and nightlife, with a career that spans from the classroom to the pulse of the streets. A graduate of Norfolk State University with a B.A. in Mass Communications Linwood worked for Universal and Def Jam records. After college Linwood moved to Los Angeles working into the fashion industry, Linwood quickly rose to work with major brands like G-Shock and Play Cloths, where he led impactful marketing initiatives that connected culture with commerce.

Linwood served as the Executive Director of the Hip Hop Studies Program at Virginia Union University, where he brought his deep passion for the genre into an academic setting, shaping conversations around Hip Hop’s legacy and influence. A proud advocate for Virginia’s contributions to Hip Hop, Linwood is dedicated to uncovering and amplifying the dynamic history and pivotal moments that have defined the state’s place in the culture. Linwood is currently the co-founder of the Virginia Hip Hop Foundation.

With a unique ability to move between corporate, creative, and educational spaces, Linwood Johnson continues to champion the stories, people, and movements that shape Hip-Hop’s past, present, and future.