Virginia Hip-Hop Foundation Culture Talks

00:00 On August 26, we dropped Vol. 2 of our Bi-Monthly Voices of Virginia playlist to show the depth, diversity, and creativity of Virginia’s Hip-Hop community. The first song on Vol. 2 is "Moonwalk" by Era Hardaway. We talked with him about his musical influences and the story behind the song.

00:30 Learning DJing from his dad, to making beats, to recording his own songs

03:55 Origins in Fredericksburg to coming of age in Norfolk

07:46 Appreciation for Jay-Z, Curren$y and others

11:08 Blog Era Influences

16:55 Inspirations for the song "Moonwalk"

19:49 What's next for Era Hardaway

#virginiahiphop #virginia #hiphopmusic #norfolk #fredericksburg

00:00 Welcome

00:48 I See You Bro Collective

01:45 Guest Introductions

02:09 Thank you Sponsors

03:00 Remembering anticipation, expectations for the album 20 years ago

04:51 Can I Have it Like That

07:34 Thoughts on Pharrell's pivot to a solo artist

09:42 Pharrell's Gangsta Grillz Mixtape with DJ Drama

13:57 Quick Shoutout to the Clipse, Let God Sort Em Out

15:24 How Does it Feel

17:14 Raspy Shit / Pharrell's world building

20:33 Best Friend / You Can Do It Too

26:11 Generations of kids from Virginia inspired by You Can Do It Too

31:39 DJ Fountz on seeing Pharrell's influence expand in real time

33:58 That Girl

40:29 Angel / Stay With Me

45:37 Breeze Barker and Tyler Donavan on vulnerability in making songs and writing lyrics

47:27 Pusha and Malice on R&B records

50:28 Our Father / Pharrell's gospel origins and collabs leading to work Voices of Fire

57:39 Breeze Barker thoughts on removing ego and grounding himself in his music

59:20 Number One / reactions to Pharrell teaming up with Kanye West

1:05:58 Breeze Barker and Tyler Donavan give perspective on their approach to collaboration in music

1:13:08 Favorite and Underrated songs on the album

1:14:31 Show You How To Hustle

1:16:29 Virginia Hip-Hop Foundation Updates

1:17:54 A Message to Pharrell WilliamsVideo by 360 Productions#pharrellwilliams #virginiahiphop #hiphopmusic #virginia #pharrell

00:00 We just launched 'Voices of Virginia' a bi-monthly playlist spotlighting the depth, diversity, and creativity of Virginia’s Hip-Hop community. The first song on Vol. 1 of the playlist is ' SMILE!' by ‪@CMRNPRKR‬ from Suffolk, VA. We sat down with him to talk about the song and his latest project 'American Rapstar'

01:12 Black Music Month / Inspirations from Virginia

03:07 American Rapstar Album and recent performance in Virginia Beach

06:32 Tupac and Scarface inspirations for the song 'SMILE!'

08:18 What's Next for CMRNPRKR

#BlackMusicMonth #virginiahiphop #virginia #hiphopmusic

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.

00:00 Welcome / Intros

03:94 Cymandye Russell Family Origins

04:52 Intalek Family Origins

05:54 NOAH-O Family Origins

09:30 How did you fall in love with Hip-Hop music and culture?

17:29 Navigating cultures with mixed race; how does Asian heritage show up in your life, in your Hip-Hop?

33:23 A discussion on 'Culture Vultures"

46:36 Talking about experiences, obstacles, and opportunities coming up in Virginia Hip-Hop scene; MTV My Block story

🎥  @thsunroom 

#AAPIHeritageMonth #virginiahiphop #AAPI #AsianAmerican #hiphop #virginia #bayareahiphop #filipinoamerican #thaiamerican

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.

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.

00:00 Welcome/Intros

3:35 MG's Family Origins

6:29 Mundane's Family Origins

7:35 How does your Asian heritage show up in your Hip-Hop music?

9:55 Who are Hip-Hop artists from Virginia who influenced you or inspired you to want to be in Hip-Hop?

13:53 What advice do you have for the next generation of Asian Americans who want to be in Hip-Hop music, art, and culture?

🎥 ‪@thsunroom‬

#AAPIHeritageMonth #virginiahiphop #AAPI #AsianAmerican #hiphop #virginia #bayareahiphop #filipinoamerican #chineseamerican

00:00 Celebrating Women's History Month with a 3 generations of Virginia Women in Hip-Hop. Conversation is led and curated by Dr. Kay Coghill02:38 Introducing Justice R.05:24 Introducing Farrah Fawx08:43 Introducing The Lady of Rage 11:40 What moments or people inspired you to want to be a Hip-Hop Artist?16:33 Discussions about the pioneers of women in Hip-Hop22:19 How do you speak truth to power as a woman in Hip-Hop?26:38 Thoughts on the evolution of the perception and the acceptance of women in hip-hop32:00 How does womanhood play are role in a rapper's fashion?35:11 How does intersexual identity influence hip-hop fashion?38:52 What ways have you used style to express your artistry?42:00 How have women in Hip-Hop been silenced because of what they rap about?48:25 How can we as lovers of Hip-Hop protect black female and femme rappers?52:40 Hopes for Black women artists in the next 50 Years of Hip-Hop🎥 @thesunroom #womenshistorymonth #womeninhiphop #virginiahiphop #womenempowerment

00:00 Celebrating Women's History Month with a discussion with Mikki Spencer and June Jones on their experiences as women working at radio stations and record labels03:52 Mikki gives history less about bring rap to Central Virginia at WKIE06:30 Mikki talks about when she knew Rap/Hip-Hop music was the next big genre07:57 Challenges Mikki faced at the first black female program director09:23 Mikki shows loves to the DJs she has worked with10:26 June gives background on her marketing experience in the music industry11:46 Flava Flav story turns into advice for new artists trying to build audience13:22 Talk about the many opportunities in the music business16:46 Is radio in trouble?18:09 Ideas for strategies to break through with content creation19:50 Thoughts on future opportunities for women in radio21:48 Road blocks they faced as black women in the music business24:23 Mikki shows love to radio and media veteran in Virginia, Mike Street25:30 June speaks on joy she feels from seeing growth from artists she has worked with, like Cardi B🎥 ‪@thsunroom‬ #womenshistorymonth #womeninhiphop #virginiahiphop #womenempowerment

00:00 Chance Fischer caught up with Mad Skillz to talk about Grammy win momentum and celebrating 30 years of his debut album, 'From Where???'

00:10 The significance of winning a Grammy in the same month that also commemorates 30 Years of his first album

02:01 Thoughts on legacy and momentum + advice for the Richmond creative community

06:06 Presenting Skillz with a custom print by Virginia artist Eddie J

http://www.eddiejstudio.com

🎥 Oliver Mendoza at VPM

#madskillz #grammys2026 #virginiahiphop #grammys #richmondva

00:00 On our second episode of Meet the Founders, we get to know Ricky Parker

02:31 The DMV Connection

04:29 When did you fall in love with Hip-Hop

06:56 How college life at VUU shaped love of musuc and perspectives on the music industry

11:38 Excitement about the work we will do with the Virginia Hip-Hop Foundation

18:38 Views on the challenges related to music consumption in current streaming era

22:16 Dream all-Virginia Hip-Hop Collab#virginiahiphop #virginiahiphop #hiphopmusic #virginia

Celebrating Hip-Hop History Month at Virginia State, we co-hosted ‘Pen Game: A Conversation About Writing in Hip-Hop’ with Virginia Hip-Hop Legends, Mad Skillz and Nickelus F.

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

03:35 When Skillz and Nick first realized they had Pen Game

05:46 Skillz and Nick talk about how their writing process has changed over time

06:51 How daily writing habits help refined the process

12:32 Thoughts on punching in when recording songs

14:14 How emotions show up in their writing

16:58 Skillz and Nick reflect on personal topics in writing and lyrics that may not have aged as well as they have

19:11 Dealing with writer's block

21:58 Knowing when you have it vs. overthinking and over editing

25:25 Skillz and Nick give perspective on writing for other people; do they think it is easier or harder than writing for themselves.

30:29 We asked Skillz and Nick if the have ever hated the way an artist performed something they wrote

32:21 How Richmond and Virginia as a whole have influenced their writing and careers in hip-hop

36:46 When do you feel like you found your voice?

39:40 The business of writing; publishing splits, getting paid and not getting paid.

43:57 Tips for artist to protect themselves in the music business

46:21 Advice for young writers

49:42 Networking across instead of up

50:52 Closing words, remarks from Virginia State University Professors

#virginiahiphop #madskillz #nickelusf #virginiastateuniversity #richmondvirginia