Hip Hop Can Save America

In this timely episode of "Hip Hop Can Save America!," Dr. Adia Winfrey dives deep into the chaos and injustice surrounding Alabama's recent redistricting battles. The founder of H.Y.P.E. Hip Hop Therapy and Transform Alabama breaks down how political maneuvers and Supreme Court decisions have affected Black voters and the broader fight for democracy. “Alabama is about 27% black. So you would thin...

Renowned beatboxer, theater artist, and Princeton professor Chesney Snow joins Manny Faces for an inspiring episode of "Hip Hop Can Save America!" diving deep into topics like Hip Hop at Princeton University, the evolution of beatboxing, and the role of Hip Hop activism in community building. Discover how Hip Hop culture’s influence now extends into Ivy League academia, community activism, and cre...

Enjoy this exclusive preview of the 2026 Trinity International Hip Hop Festival on "Hip Hop Can Save America!" --- Subscribe to our companion newsletter: https:/www.hiphopcansaveamerica.com/newsletter --- In this episode, host Manny Faces is joined by Professor Seth Markle, Andreia Soares, and Taris "Bboy Poptart" Clemons to break down what's in store for the 20th edition of this iconic event, put...

What happens when Hip Hop’s brilliant and powerful women take center stage at an Ivy League university? In this exclusive episode, Manny Faces sits down with Eternia, acclaimed MC and guest artist lecturer, and Dr. Francesca D'Amico-Cuthbert, leading Hip Hop historian, to dive into Princeton’s trailblazing course, “Miss-Education: The Women of Hip-Hop.” Discover how this never-before-seen course b...

This excerpt from the Hip Hop Can Save America! livestream show -- "Hip Hop News That Isn’t About Dumb Sh*t" -- features host Manny Faces and guest co-host Silent Knight discussing the meaningful ways Hip Hop is intersecting with education, activism, community work, and more. The conversation highlights research on how Hip Hop DJing and production can help with ADHD, the debut of the "Young John L...

This excerpt from the Hip Hop Can Save America! livestream show -- "Hip Hop News That Isn’t About Dumb Sh*t" -- features host Manny Faces and guest co-host Keisha "TK" Dutes discussing the meaningful ways Hip Hop is intersecting with education, activism, community work, and more. The conversation highlights a Princeton University course on women in Hip-Hop, rapper Nur-D's stand against ICE in Minn...

Explore how grassroots journalism and community storytelling are shaping narratives from the ground up in this powerful excerpt from Hip Hop Can Save America! Host Manny Faces is joined by radio and podcasting veteran Keisha "TK" Dutes , to discuss her work connecting directly with Minneapolis residents amid social upheaval and media spotlight. Listen as Keisha "TK" Dutes shares her perspective on...

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.bi...

This week, Manny Faces highlights Hip Hop stories that actually matter — from tributes to John Forte and the legacy of Cornbread, to groundbreaking Hip Hop programming at universities, museums, and community spaces across the country. We spotlight women in Hip Hop, youth-driven creative spaces, father-daughter Grammy nominees, Hip Hop’s growing role in mental health conversations, and the cultural...

Hip Hop already teaches social emotional learning — we just don’t always recognize it as such. In this long-overdue conversation, Manny Faces sits down with David Spellmon , educator, speaker, and author of "Just Like Music: Social Emotional Learning Inspired by Hip-Hop," to explore how Hip Hop culture naturally builds emotional intelligence, self-awareness, communication, and resilience — often m...

[In collaboration with the News Beat Podcast ] Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy encompasses so much more than simply his 'I Have a Dream' speech, and his mission is as imperative today as it was then. We republish “MLK: What They Won’t Teach in School”—our 2017 inaugural episode—each MLK Day as a reminder of the civil rights leader’s lasting impact, the movement’s ongoing struggle, and still unrea...

This week on Hip Hop News That Isn’t About Dumb Sh*t , Manny Faces breaks down several stories shaping Hip Hop beyond the headlines — including the narrative around rap’s so-called 2025 “comeback,” the passing and legacy of James Bernard, and the quieter ways Hip Hop continues to evolve across music, journalism, performance, and community. This segment is excerpted from the weekly Hip Hop Can Save...

📬 Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.hiphopcansaveamerica.com/newsletter 📘 The book: *Hip Hop Can Save America!* https://www.mannyfaces.com/book 🎤 Watch my TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/5rRxG1i5iRo?si=jOkW43tVbrYeqdIT --- Discover how Hip Hop and DJ culture are revolutionizing education and support for neurodivergent youth in this powerful episode of "Hip Hop Can Save America." Host Manny F...

📬 Subscribe to the Substack: https://www.hiphopcansaveamerica.com/newsletter 📘 The book: *Hip Hop Can Save America!* https://www.mannyfaces.com/book 🎤 Watch my TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/5rRxG1i5iRo?si=jOkW43tVbrYeqdIT --- What happens when Hip Hop’s deepest history meets the power of visual storytelling? In this episode of Hip Hop America, Manny Faces sits down with historian Dr. Walter Greas...

Discover how Hip Hop becomes a powerful force for resistance, community, and transformation in this engaging interview from the "Hip Hop Can Save America" podcast! Host Manny Faces sits down with Ashley Tate, Assistant Professor of Dance at UNC Charlotte and founder of the "To the Beat Y'all: A Hip Hop Symposium" to explore the roots and real impact of street dance, embodied self-affirmation, and...

Donald Trump's dismantling of the Department of Education, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS, Project 2025's education agenda, and Prager University’s expansion into classrooms are all part of a long-planned, orchestrated plan to thorouoghly control what kids learn and how they think. This video breaks down how PragerU operates, why it’s so dangerous for all students (especially Blac...

Every Friday night from May through November in New York City, Union Square transforms into a circle of unity, creativity, and raw Hip Hop brilliance. This video essay explores Legendary Cyphers — a grassroots gathering where freestyle rap, poetry, music, and community collide to show the true power of Hip Hop culture. From the late founder Daniel “Majesty” Sanchez to today’s artists and organizer...

Audio version of a recent opinion piece of mine, published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. -- PLEASE SUPPORT THIS WORK: https://www.patreon.com/mannyfaces or https://mannyfaces.substack.com --- Hip-Hop Can Save America! with Manny Faces is a Manny Faces Media production, in association with The Center for Hip-Hop Advocacy. LINKS AND RESOURCES: LINKS TO SHOW WEBSITE/YOUTUBE/INFO: https://www.h...

In this quick update episode, Manny Faces -- award-winning Hip Hop journalist, podcaster, consultant, and now author -- shares some exciting news about the return of the "Hip Hop Can Save America!" podcast and his brand new book! What’s Inside This Episode: Podcast Relaunch:  Get ready! The award-winning show is coming back soon with (mostly) weekly episodes. Expect more inspiring interviews...

Toni Blackman is a groundbreaking artist and educator who has captivated audiences worldwide - 50 countries to date! As the first official U.S. Hip Hop Ambassador, she has performed at prestigious venues like the UN, Carnegie Hall, and the Apollo Theater. A pioneer in Hip Hop theater and education, Toni was both an Echoing Green and a Soros Fellow for programs she created like Rhyme Like a Girl an...

In a sea of Hip Hop content creators, few stand out as producing high quality work that truly represents the breadth and depth of the genre, with the reverence and respect it deserves. Now normally, you'd probably think I'm talking about myself... And, you damn right. But I think that's what made this guest special is that I'm not just gonna give a slot to any old creator out here in these electro...

This episode is a bit different, but it’s also one of my favorites as this was the first live and IN PERSON episode of Hip Hop Can Save America! It was filmed in front of a live audience during PodJamATL, where we and two other Atlanta-area podcasts were invited to film an episode at their event.  It gave me the opportunity to bring out as my guest, a long-time, world-touring, indie rap artis...

Today’s drop is a quickie, due to the fact that what I want to share with you is starting today. Each year, the city of Selma, Alabama hosts the  Bridge Crossing Jubilee , a commemoration of the 1965 civil rights march and subsequent attack on demonstrators infamously known as  Bloody Sunday . As part of this remembrance,  Dr. Adia Winfrey  helps orchestrate the  Inte...

On this episode, an interview with Dr. Randy Sconiers LCSW, founder of the Mental-Hop platform that mixes Hip Hop music and culture with mental health education. For more on Dr. Sconiers, visit www.doctorsconiersspeaks.com PLEASE SUPPORT THIS WORK: https://www.patreon.com/mannyfaces or https://mannyfaces.substack.com --- Hip-Hop Can Save America! with Manny Faces is a Manny Faces Media production,...

Upcoming Hip Hop academic conferences and CFP due dates. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS WORK: https://www.patreon.com/mannyfaces or https://mannyfaces.substack.com --- Hip-Hop Can Save America! with Manny Faces is a Manny Faces Media production, in association with The Center for Hip-Hop Advocacy. LINKS AND RESOURCES: SHOW WEBSITE: https://www.hiphopcansaveamerica.com ON YOUTUBE: https://www.hiphopcansaveame...