The EQ. Magazine — Issue 01: 20 Years of WBL

Issue 1 commemorates 20 years of Words Beats & Life, tracing the organization’s evolution as a leader in hip-hop arts education, cultural diplomacy, and community building. This inaugural issue features retrospectives on WBL’s history, impact testimonials, interviews with artists and alumni including Ron “DJ RBI” Brown and Geena Marie, reflections on the Academy’s growth, photo essays documenting global hip-hop culture, and a forward-looking vision through the Towards 2040 initiative, celebrating two decades of creativity, service, and social change.

Contributors: Alex Mitchell, Mazi Mutafa, Dominic Painter, Ron “DJ RBI” Brown, Asad Ali Jafri, Serena Lewis, Taylor Anderson, Marcus Moody, Richard Soben, Flex Mathews, Yahsmin MB Bobo, Helen Bryant.

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Read the full issue of The EQ. magazine directly on this page. Flip through Issue 1 to celebrate 20 years of Words Beats & Life, exploring the organization’s history, impact and future vision.

About This Issue: 20 Years of Impact

The inaugural issue of The EQ. marks Words Beats & Life’s 20th anniversary, celebrating two decades of hip-hop culture, arts education and community transformation.

This issue reflects on WBL’s origins, major milestones and the people who helped build the organization into a cultural institution. Through interviews, retrospectives and photo essays, the magazine honors the past while setting the stage for the future.

What’s Inside This Issue

  • 20-year organizational retrospective

  • Founder reflections and leadership interviews

  • Academy impact stories and alumni voices

  • Photo essays documenting cultural history

  • Early visions for WBL’s future direction

Issue Details

  • Publisher: Words Beats & Life Inc.

  • Publication: The EQ. magazine

  • Issue: Issue 1

  • Theme: 20 Years of Impact

  • Format: Print and digital magazine

  • Focus Areas: Organizational history, arts education, hip-hop culture

  • Contributors: Alex Mitchell, Mazi Mutafa, Dominic Painter, Ron “DJ RBI” Brown, Asad Ali Jafri, Serena Lewis, Taylor Anderson, Marcus Moody, Richard Soben, Flex Mathews, Yahsmin MB Bobo, Helen Bryant.

  • Audience: Longtime supporters, new readers, artists and community members

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