Join the Wisdom of the Cypher with artist Toni Blackman and learn how to use freestyle hip-hop to engage, empower and educate young people. Get ready to think on your feet, let go of mistakes, and identify creative ways to develop your students as leaders!
TONI BLACKMAN is an MC/poet, director, and producer who was the first Hip Hop artist selected to work as a Cultural Ambassador with the US Department of State. A master of improvisational poetry and freestyle rap, she’s known for her powerful performances and alluring presence. Performing, teaching, and speaking about Hip Hop have taken Toni to 48 countries. This mindfulness educator now focuses most of her creative work around themes of emotional wellbeing. A pioneer in Hip Hop education, Hip Hop theatre, and Hip Hop diplomacy, Toni has received fellowships from the Echoing Green Foundation, Open Society Institute, served as a Visiting Scholar at the University of Michigan and most recently NYU. Creator of Rhyme like a Girl, Toni uses Hip Hop to help girls and women honor their voices. As an artist Toni has performed in venues around the world, featured in music festivals, Hip Hop theatre festivals and shared stages with many luminaries. In 2020, Toni has appeared in Mindful Magazine, the New York Times, DISCOVER Magazine, appeared in an NBC segment and several podcasts.
A professional speaker, Toni coaches artists for stage performance and has public speaking clients as well. She spoke at the Barcelona World Social Forum, Aspen Institute Creative Summit in Oman, and delivered TED Talks. She received her B.A. and M.A. from Howard University. The leading expert on Cypher, her new book, Wisdom of the Cypher, will be released in January 2021. Born and raised in California’s Bay Area Toni now resides in Brooklyn, New York.
Follow her Hip Hop Meditation content series online #hiphopmeditation
IG + Twitter = @toniblackman