Hip Hop Can Save America

By Manny Faces Media

"Hip Hop Can Save America!" explores the innovative, inspiring, and often surprising ways Hip Hop music, culture, and sensibilities are improving society in areas such as education, science/technology... more

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2424 ratings

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FAQs about Hip Hop Can Save America:

How many episodes does Hip Hop Can Save America have?

The podcast currently has 119 episodes available.

Hip Hop Can Save America episodes:

November 19, 2025 The Making of "The Graphic History of Hip Hop" with Dr. Walter Greason & Tim Fielder
📬 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
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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 Greason and visual Afrofuturist Tim Fielder, the duo behind "The Graphic History of Hip Hop," a project that has exploded across classrooms, museums, Comic-Cons, and global Hip Hop circles.
Together, we dig into:
🎨 How a simple classroom project became a nationwide phenomenon
📚 Why they chose to tell Hip Hop’s story as a graphic history, not a comic
🌍 The global impact — from NYC schools to the Smithsonian, San Diego Comic-Con, and Senegal
🧠 The role of Hip Hop as pedagogy, historical analysis, and Afrofuturist innovation
🔥 How young people are responding (“middle schoolers literally stormed the room…”)
🕊 Why Hip Hop keeps becoming the blueprint for the future — culturally, politically, and academically
This conversation hits everything from James Brown to Nelson Mandela, Public Enemy to the Native Tongues, the Bronx to Afrofuturism, and the ongoing fight to place Hip Hop where it belongs: at the center of global cultural change.
If you care about Hip Hop, art, education, Black history, visual culture, or the future of storytelling — this is the one.
Get the book: https://www.graphichistorycompany.com
Follow the guests:
Dr. Walter D. Greason — https://www.walterdgreason.com/
Tim Fielder (DieselFunk) — https://www.dieselfunk.com
My book: Hip Hop Can Save America! Inspiration for the Nation from a Culture of Innovation" - https://www.mannyfaces.com/book
The Hip Hop Can Save America! media ecosystem (podcast, newsletter, Discord, and more): https://www.hiphopcansaveamerica.com
Support this important cultural journalism: https://www.patreon.com/mannyfaces
...more
58min
October 14, 2025 The Resistance, Power, and Voice of Hip Hop with Ashley Tate, Founder, "To The Beat Y'all Symposium"
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 the vibrant diversity within Hip Hop culture. Whether you're an artist, educator, parent, community leader, or simply curious about what makes Hip Hop ESSENTIAL to personal and social change, this conversation sheds light on why the mind, body, and soul of Hpi Hop has always been central to its voice.
Get an inside look at the inaugural "To the Beat Y'all Symposium," a three-day celebration of movement, research, and community-building. Ashley shares her motivation for designing a festival that embraces all elements of hip hop—not just MCing or DJing, but also dance, visual art, and scholarship. As she explains: "I just consider hip hop this powerful force for embodied transformation… When they would leave the classroom, a lot of times they felt this new sense of self-worth and their shoulders back, head a little higher... Really understanding that their body is their first home."
Highlights from the episode include why dance is sometimes overlooked in Hip Hop spaces, how community-driven gatherings create lasting connections, and practical ways anyone can engage with Hip Hop culture — artistically, academically, or just for the love of it.
If you want to be inspired by hip hop's power as a "vehicle for creativity and education and social change," this one's for you! Don't miss Ashley's inside scoop and Manny's signature, thought-provoking questions. Hit play, join the conversation, and find out how Hip Hop Can Save America.
TIX/INFO: https://www.tinyurl.com/tothebeatyallsymposium
#HipHopCulture #DanceEducation #CommunityEmpowerment
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📚 This interview also connects to themes from the Cornel West-endorsed book, "Hip Hop Can Save America! Inspiration for the Nation from a Culture of Innovation," showing how Hip Hop provides strategies for education, social justice, mental health, and civic engagement.
Purchase the book here: https://www.hiphopcansaveamerica.com/book
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For more from Manny Faces: https://www.mannyfaces.com
The Hip Hop Can Save America! media ecosystem (podcast, newsletter, Discord, and more): https://www.hiphopcansaveamerica.com
Support this important cultural journalism: https://www.patreon.com/mannyfaces
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Key topics: hip hop symposium organization, dance as resistance and empowerment, movement and rhythm in hip hop, hip hop pedagogy, intersection of art and scholarship, accessibility of hip hop events, research presentations in hip hop, student involvement and poster presentations, visual arts in hip hop culture, community building and networking, inclusivity within hip hop conferences, history and types of hip hop dance, social dances and their significance, street dance and hip hop adjacency, empowerment through body movement, cultural legacy and memory in hip hop, bridging academic and community gaps, creative education and social change, youth contributions to hip hop, authenticity and expression in dance, ecosystem of hip hop arts
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If you believe Hip Hop is more than music—if you see it as a force for unity, creativity, and change—then hit LIKE, drop a COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more interviews, essays, and stories at the intersection of Hip Hop and society.
...more
40min
October 05, 2025 Trump, PragerU, and The Attack on Education - And How Hip Hop Can Fight Back!
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 Black and marginalized communities), and how Hip Hop culture — from KRS-One’s “You Must Learn” to modern Hip Hop-based pedagogy — offers uniquely powerful, proven lessons and tactics on how to counter these efforts.
If you’re an educator, this matters for how you teach and protect your students.
If you’re a parent, you need to know that this will dictate what your children are actually learning in school.
If you’re a policymaker or activist, this will provide some guidance as to how communities can push back against authoritarian strategies disguised as “education."
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📚 This essay also connects to themes from the book Hip Hop Can Save America! Inspiration for the Nation from a Culture of Innovation—showing how Hip Hop provides strategies for education, social justice, mental health, and civic engagement.
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PLEASE SUPPORT THIS WORK: https://www.patreon.com/mannyfaces or https://mannyfaces.substack.com
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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.hiphopcansaveamerica.com
MANNY FACES: https://www.mannyfaces.com
NEWSLETTER (free!): https://mannyfaces.substack.com
SUPPORT QUALITY INDIE HIP HOP JOURNALISM: https://www.patreon.com/mannyfaces
Manny Faces Media (podcast production company): https://www.mannyfacesmedia.com
The Center for Hip-Hop Advocacy: https://www.hiphopadvocacy.org
SPONSORS / FRIENDS:
The Mixtape Museum: https://www.mixtapemuseum.org
Hip-Hop Hacks: https://www.hiphophacks.com
Hip-Hop Can Save America! is produced, written, edited, smacked, flipped, rubbed down, and distributed by Manny Faces.
Eternal thanks to Consulting Producer, Sommer McCoy.
...more
36min
September 26, 2025 What Freestyle Rappers Can Teach Us About Building a Better World
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 organizers who carry on his vision, Legendary Cyphers represents more than music. It’s a living blueprint for community building, equity, leadership, innovation, and collaboration. In this video, journalist and cultural strategist Manny Faces unpacks how a cypher becomes a classroom, a stage, a sanctuary, and a microcosm of what society could be if we embraced Hip Hop’s deeper ethos.
📚 This essay also connects to themes from the book Hip Hop Can Save America! Inspiration for the Nation from a Culture of Innovation—showing how Hip Hop provides strategies for education, social justice, mental health, and civic engagement.
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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.hiphopcansaveamerica.com
MANNY FACES: https://www.mannyfaces.com
NEWSLETTER (free!): https://mannyfaces.substack.com
SUPPORT QUALITY INDIE HIP HOP JOURNALISM: https://www.patreon.com/mannyfaces
Manny Faces Media (podcast production company): https://www.mannyfacesmedia.com
The Center for Hip-Hop Advocacy: https://www.hiphopadvocacy.org
SPONSORS / FRIENDS:
The Mixtape Museum: https://www.mixtapemuseum.org
Hip-Hop Hacks: https://www.hiphophacks.com
Hip-Hop Can Save America! is produced, written, edited, smacked, flipped, rubbed down, and distributed by Manny Faces.
Eternal thanks to Consulting Producer, Sommer McCoy.
...more
16min
September 02, 2025 Hip Hop Has What Our Schools Are MIssing
Audio version of a recent opinion piece of mine, published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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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.hiphopcansaveamerica.com
MANNY FACES: https://www.mannyfaces.com
NEWSLETTER (free!): https://mannyfaces.substack.com
SUPPORT QUALITY INDIE HIP HOP JOURNALISM: https://www.patreon.com/mannyfaces
Manny Faces Media (podcast production company): https://www.mannyfacesmedia.com
The Center for Hip-Hop Advocacy: https://www.hiphopadvocacy.org
SPONSORS / FRIENDS:
The Mixtape Museum: https://www.mixtapemuseum.org
Hip-Hop Hacks: https://www.hiphophacks.com
Hip-Hop Can Save America! is produced, written, edited, smacked, flipped, rubbed down, and distributed by Manny Faces.
Eternal thanks to Consulting Producer, Sommer McCoy.
...more
11min
August 11, 2025Hip Hop Can Save America is now a book!! Plus, quick update on the podcast!
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 with educators, activists, teaching artists, entrepreneurs, and innovators leveraging hip hop to uplift individuals and communities.
Book Announcement: Manny’s debut book, Hip Hop Can Save America: Inspiration for the Nation From a Culture of Innovation, is out now, endorsed by luminaries such as Dr. Cornel West, Dr. Raphael Travis, Dr. Murray Forman, the Howard University Hip Hop Studies Program, and more. The book is packed with impactful, real-world stories, showing hip hop’s influence in education, healthcare, social justice, and beyond. It’s a must-read for teachers, parents, and anyone curious about creative solutions for persistent societal challenges.
Where to Get the Book: Head to hiphopcansaveamerica.com/book to learn more or purchase. Personalized, signed copies are available!
Upcoming Appearances: Manny will be speaking at events, conferences, and, most notably, delivering a TEDx talk in Atlanta on September 27th. Stay up-to-date with his calendar at mannyfaces.com/calendar.
Stay Connected: Browse past episodes, subscribe, and spread the word about the show. Hip Hop media that focuses on positive, community-driven stories needs your support!
Join the Ecosystem: Check out the podcast’s YouTube channel, newsletter, Discord server, and subreddit -- all at hiphopcansaveamerica.com.

Support this important cultural journalism at www.patreon.com/mannyfaces or mannyfaces.substack.com
Thank you for tuning in. Whether you're new to the show or a longtime listener, we appreciate your support.
...more
4min
May 09, 2025 The Wisdom of Toni Blackman - Hip Hop, The Cypher, Staying Motivated and Other Gems
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 and The Freestyle Union. She has also worked as a Spoken Word/Rap Coach for Disney's Emmy Award-winning series, The Crossover.
With a passion for social justice and cultural exchange, Toni continues to inspire and empower through her music, writing, and community work. Fresh off dates in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Accra and Joburg, Toni's celebrating the upcoming release of her audiobook for Wisdom of the Cypher, as well as the release of her documentary, A Woman’s Place is in the Cypher, supported by the Big We Foundation’s SheStories grant. Toni lives between Brooklyn, NY and Dakar, Senegal.
https://www.toniblackman.com
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Support this quality, independent Hip Hop cultural journalism: https://www.patreon.com/mannyfaces or https://mannyfaces.substack.com
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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.hiphopcansaveamerica.com/watch
MANNY FACES: https://www.mannyfaces.com
NEWSLETTER (free!): https://mannyfaces.substack.com
SUPPORT QUALITY INDIE HIP HOP JOURNALISM: https://www.patreon.com/mannyfaces
Manny Faces Media (podcast production company): https://www.mannyfacesmedia.com
The Center for Hip-Hop Advocacy: https://www.hiphopadvocacy.org
SPONSORS / FRIENDS:
The Mixtape Museum: https://www.mixtapemuseum.org
Hip-Hop Hacks: https://www.hiphophacks.com
Hip-Hop Can Save America! is produced, written, edited, smacked, flipped, rubbed down, and distributed by Manny Faces.
Eternal thanks to Consulting Producer, Sommer McCoy.
...more
1h 12min
May 03, 2025 This is What Top Tier Hip Hop Content Creation Looks Like With Instagrammer REAL QUICK
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 electronic streets. Nah, REAL QUICK is different. He's created a weekly Instagram series under @real_quick_qgtm (for Queens Get The Money) which mainly highlights his Top 5 favorite Hip Hop songs from a different category each time, that I quite frankly, love. And I despise lists! Anyway, this is a great talk with a content creator that I think is doing everything right, and doing Hip Hop music a great service.
So ayo, real quick... Check out my talk with REAL QUICK.
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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.hiphopcansaveamerica.com/watch
MANNY FACES: https://www.mannyfaces.com
NEWSLETTER (free!): https://mannyfaces.substack.com
SUPPORT QUALITY INDIE HIP HOP JOURNALISM: https://www.patreon.com/mannyfaces
Manny Faces Media (podcast production company): https://www.mannyfacesmedia.com
The Center for Hip-Hop Advocacy: https://www.hiphopadvocacy.org
SPONSORS / FRIENDS:
The Mixtape Museum: https://www.mixtapemuseum.org
Hip-Hop Hacks: https://www.hiphophacks.com
Hip-Hop Can Save America! is produced, written, edited, smacked, flipped, rubbed down, and distributed by Manny Faces.
Eternal thanks to Consulting Producer, Sommer McCoy.
...more
40min
March 26, 2025 HHCSA IN PERSON! With artist, producer, educator & author John Robinson
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 artist, dope wordsmith, beatmaker and producer, educator, author, and all around cool cat, John Robinson who some may know as JR or Lil Sci from Scienz of Life.
Most of it translates well to the audio pod, so if you haven’t seen this over on YouTube, and this is your preferred medium, have no fear. You’ll get an entertaining, informative and insightful interview as usual, with the added bonus of some Hip Hop news that isn’t about dumb shit, and the extra in-person shenanigans that took place.
More on John Robinson at www.johnrobinsonmusic.com
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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.hiphopcansaveamerica.com/watch
MANNY FACES: https://www.mannyfaces.com
NEWSLETTER (free!): https://mannyfaces.substack.com
SUPPORT QUALITY INDIE HIP HOP JOURNALISM: https://www.patreon.com/mannyfaces
Manny Faces Media (podcast production company): https://www.mannyfacesmedia.com
The Center for Hip-Hop Advocacy: https://www.hiphopadvocacy.org
SPONSORS / FRIENDS:
The Mixtape Museum: https://www.mixtapemuseum.org
Hip-Hop Hacks: https://www.hiphophacks.com
Hip-Hop Can Save America! is produced, written, edited, smacked, flipped, rubbed down, and distributed by Manny Faces.
Eternal thanks to Consulting Producer, Sommer McCoy.
...more
56min
March 07, 2025 Hip Hop Summit at the 2025 Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee with Dr. Adia Winfrey
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 Intergenerational Hip Hop Political Summit, replete with performances, speakers, and announcing a call-to-action for members of the Hip Hop community in Alabama, and at-large, to ensure we continue to use the culture for more than just entertainment.
Dr. Winfrey, who has been on the show before, is a Doctor of Psychology and the creator of the H.Y.P.E. Hip Hop Therapy initiative. She previously ran for Congress and is co-creator of the political activism organization Transform Alabama. Dr. Dia, as she is affectionately known, took a few moments to break down what to expect from this year’s Jubilee, the Hip Hop Summit, and beyond, as we all continue to uplift the political power of the Hip Hop community.
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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.hiphopcansaveamerica.com/watch
MANNY FACES: https://www.mannyfaces.com
NEWSLETTER (free!): https://mannyfaces.substack.com
SUPPORT QUALITY INDIE HIP HOP JOURNALISM: https://www.patreon.com/mannyfaces
Manny Faces Media (podcast production company): https://www.mannyfacesmedia.com
The Center for Hip-Hop Advocacy: https://www.hiphopadvocacy.org
SPONSORS / FRIENDS:
The Mixtape Museum: https://www.mixtapemuseum.org
Hip-Hop Hacks: https://www.hiphophacks.com
Hip-Hop Can Save America! is produced, written, edited, smacked, flipped, rubbed down, and distributed by Manny Faces.
Eternal thanks to Consulting Producer, Sommer McCoy.
...more
21min

FAQs about Hip Hop Can Save America:

How many episodes does Hip Hop Can Save America have?

The podcast currently has 119 episodes available.

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