Innovative Workshops, Hip Hop Hacks, Returns On June 10th @ Spotify In NY

Hip Hop Hacks is a celebration and exploration of the intersection of hip-hop and technology! The day will include talks from industry leaders, workshops on various topics related to hip hop, music technology, and computer science; music performances, and collaborative hacking on new projects and ideas by attendees!

It comes as no surprise the birthplace of hip hop is cultivating the next wave of leaders in the genre and the industry’s evolution. Focusing on the integral relationship between hip hop and technology, Hip Hop Hacks serves as a place for education and innovation, equipping attendees with the knowledge and tools to make an impact in the widening digital landscape.

The first Hip Hop Hacks took place in April 2016. Members of The Mixtape Museum, Young Hackers, and Monthly Music Hackathon organized the event, which took place at Spotify’s New York City offices. The event attracted over 60 tech and music industry professionals, 16 company sponsors, 500 + participants, and included 12 hip hop and code-related workshops. Past highlights include an exclusive demo of the Fetty Wap: Nitro Nation Stories mobile game and a groundbreaking hack Urban Explorer, an app that preserves graffiti/street art over time through photos on a map.

After a brief hiatus to revamp the program and accommodate the increasing demand, Hip Hop Hacks returns Saturday, June 10 at the Spotify headquarters in New York City. Hiphophacks.com and Monthly Music Hackathon will present this event in partnership with The Hip Hop Education Center. “Hip Hop Hacks mirrors hip hop’s collaborative nature in that, it would not be not be possible without the generosity of professionals in the tech, education, and hip hop communities. I am grateful to all of our sponsors, partners, and mentors who put time and effort into this event to make it a success.” says, R. Sommer McCoy, Hip Hop Hack’s founder and principal organizer.

The free, one-day event will be jam packed with an array of exciting activities including:

• Talks and panels by Martha Diaz, community organizer, media producer and founder of The Hip Hop Education Center; Manny Faces, DJ, and founder of The Center of Hip Hop Advocacy and The NY Hip Hop Report; Hip Hop, Social Media and Mental Health with Demi (Oxymorrons), Ka5sh (Social Media Guru “Meme Creator”), Sheldon Garnett (Google/Music Producer) Michael J. Heyliger (STACHE Media/Sony Red), Carly Schwartz (Google/Editorial) and Keith White (Artist Manager/ Lawyer).
• Tech and hip hop related workshops including Beginner Coding with Make School; freestyling workshop Off Top On Topic with Rabbi Darkside; Beat Making Today’s Future Sound; Hustling 101: How to turn your Code into Cash, and more.
• Special performances by John Robinson, select Ed Sullivan Fellows, Victor “Divine” Lombard whose single H.O.P.E featuring Felicia Horowitz debuts on Spotify June 9 and more.

Supporting Hip Hop Hacks on June 10th are Alec Donkin Design, All Star Code, Blak Fintech, Ed Sullivan Fellows Program, #HipHopEd, La Unidad Latina Foundation, Make School, Native Instruments, New York Music Month, NYU Music Experience Design Lab, OffTop, Say Word, Spotify, The Cipher, The Hip Hop Education Center, The New York Hip Hop Report, Today’s Future Sound, TrebleFM, and Young Hackers.

To register and for more information on Hip Hop Hacks, please visit: HipHopHacks.com

About Hip-Hop Hacks
Hip Hop Hacks is a hackathon for students to explore technology’s role in hip-hop and how the most popular genre in the world inspires technological innovation. Since its inception, hip-hop has evolved in tandem with technology, from turntables and microphones to mediums like vinyl, compact cassettes, mp3s, and now apps and algorithms. Students will study the elements of hip-hop, participate in code and music workshops, network with other students, and learn from music- and tech-industry veterans.

About Hip Hop Education Center
The Hip-Hop Education Center’s mission is to be a catalyst for social equity and change by developing a centralized digital learning hub and archival management system that leverages the hip-hop education field to provide educational and career opportunities.

About The Mixtape Museum
The Mixtape Museum (MXM) is an archive project established to collect, preserve, and share knowledge related to mixtape history. The MXM is devoted to advancing public understanding and appreciation of the art, history, technique, and impact mixtapes have made around the world. While encouraging the research of mixtapes as records of time, place and situation, it will also examine the individuals that have shaped their existence. Through exhibitions, technology, publications, symposia, collaborative projects, and other partnerships, our aim is to create an environment that encourages dialogue between scholars, music professionals, and enthusiasts on the mixtapes various functions in society. For more information, please visit: MixtapeMuseum.org.

About Monthly Music Hackathon
At Monthly Music Hackathon NYC, musicians, programmers, artists, scientists, composers, hardware tinkerers, and others spend the last Saturday of each month hacking together projects exploring music. At 8pm, they have a concert and presentations of the art, technology, and research developed that day. It’s open to everyone. Please come participate or observe. For more information, please visit: MonthlyMusicHackathon.org.