Rap Research Lab

Just returned from the Dubai Future Forum 2025 feeling energized and inspired. It was a reminder that innovation is just as much a cultural practice as a technological one. Grateful for the insights, the creativity, and the expansion of my global network. ✨🌍

📖 Books of Remembrance Reading

Tahir Hemphill & Ainsley Burrows
🎧 DJ Set by CX KIDTRONIK

Thursday, October 23 | 6–8PM
Print Center New York
535 West 24th Street, New York, NY
🍷 Free and open to the public | Wine + beer open bar

Join us for the second-ever public reading from Book of Remembrance — a durational performance and public reading conceived and produced by Tahir Hemphill and performed by Ainsley Burrows.

As part of Hemphill’s expansive creative research practice, he has produced two bound volumes: a 200-page book compiling rappers with “Big” in their names and a 1,000-page book compiling rappers with “Lil” in theirs. Burrows will bring these texts to life in this live invocation and activation of the work.

🎥 Watch the first reading here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=O6pIQTyD6JA

Willonius Hatcher is an award-winning digital strategist, AI expert, and comedian, a modern renaissance man unafraid to break boundaries. He is the creator of Clubhouse’s first live serialized audio drama, critically acclaimed soap opera, 'The Young and The Thirsty.” Beyond the cultural impact of his renowned song "BBL Drizzy," Hatcher has also guided world-renowned brands like Samsung and Google to transformative marketing success.

Willonius will join our upcoming practicum as one of the artists and visionaries working to imagine collective experience of play, creativity, and experimentation that uses AI text-to-image software. After a private working session and brainstorm, artists will present their insights for critique and feedback from the audience.

There's only a few days left to get your ticket at the !

📆 August 1st, 7:30p
📍The REACH Pavilion

On Thursday August 1st at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts we invite you to playtest: Practicum featuring lightning talks by Black and Brown AI creatives who will showcase the incredible possibilities and possible pitfalls of these technologies. Following presentations, we’ll dive into engaging discussions, where you'll have the chance to ask questions, offer feedback, and critique the ideas presented.

More Info: www.playtest.org

Tickets: www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/hip-hop/2023-2024/playtest/