Graphic design by Maria “TOOFLY” Castillo

Presented in collaboration with the Hip-Hop Education Center

The second annual Fresh, Bold & So Def Symposium spotlights the achievements of the often-unsung heroines of Hip-Hop who set the standard and continue to play a pivotal role in shaping the culture. The symposium showcases the rich tapestry of talent from women trailblazers innovating in a male-dominated industry with a roster of presenters featuring artists, scholars, and creative professionals. Through powerful stories, cultural insights, and a collective commitment to honoring Hip-Hop’s past, present, and future, this intergenerational and transnational gathering is a vital celebration of the transformative impact of women at the vanguard of the global Hip-Hop movement.

This year's Fresh, Bold & So Def Symposium takes place April 4–6. It kicks off with a special screening of You Can't Erase Me: Sparky D at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts on April 4 at 4:00 pm, continues with this event, Trailblazers Talk, featuring the twelve speakers and artists listed below, and concludes with a closing celebration at the Maysles Documentary Center on April 6 at 1:00 pm. Click here to revisit last year's symposium.

Featured Speakers & Artists

Beat Maker, Engineer, Professor
Suzi Analogue
DJ, Dancer, Historian
Tara “Big Tara” Crichlow
Battle Rapper, Minister
Sparky D
Colombian-American Social Entrepreneur
Martha Diaz
MC, Educator, Ambassador
Queen Herawin
MC, Author
Emma Lee M.C.
Black Feminist Rapper, Beatmaker, and Scholar
SAMMUS aka Dr. Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo
Archivist
India Mallard
Anthropologist, Founder of the Black Feminist Archives
Dr. Irma McClaurin
First and only 2x DMC Champion
DJ Perly
Dancer, Educator, Filmmaker
B-Girl Rokafella
Pioneer Photographer
Koi Sojer
Dancer/NGO Leader
Aruna Vermeulen
Venue
David Rubenstein Atrium
1887 Broadway, New York, NY 10023

For ticketing, call CenterCharge at 212-721-6500 from Monday–Saturday 10:00 am–8:00 pm and Sunday noon–6:00 pm.

For general inquiries, call Guest Experience at 212-875-5456 or email [email protected].

The David Rubenstein Atrium is where arts and democracy converge—committed to the values of welcoming all, artistic innovation, audience and artist intimacy, and community partnership. The Atrium’s free programming opens our world to culture that addresses today’s most pressing issues and explores our common humanity. Learn more »

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