Posts in Publications
The EQ. Magazine — Issue 6: Creative Employment
The EQ. Magazine — Issue 6: Creative Employment

Issue 6 focuses on Words Beats & Life’s organizational priority of creative employment, connecting arts education to real-world work. Featuring a cover story on successful indie rapper and former WBL deputy director Stan “Substantial” Robinson, profiles of past students Jamilla Okubo and KAMAUU, who have gone on to successful careers in the arts, and a photo essay of the 2025 DMV Made festival.

Contributors: Donney Rose, Mazi Mutafa, Antwan “Awon” Wiggins, Stan “Substantial” Robinson, Dominic Painter, Mazi Mutafa, Adrienne Bedsole, Erica Keith, Richard Soben.

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Publications, Creative EmploymentAdrienne Bedsolewords beats life incCreative Employment, KAMAUU, Jamilla Okubo, Subtantial, Stan Robinson, WBL Academy, Arts Education, Magazine, Creative Arts, Careers, DMVComment
The EQ. Magazine — Issue 5: Cultural Diplomacy
The EQ. Magazine — Issue 5: Cultural Diplomacy

Published in winter 2024, issue 5 explores Words Beats & Life’s global hip-hop education and cultural diplomacy work, documenting how hip-hop operates as a tool for learning, exchange and community-building across borders. Featuring reporting from Ireland, Nepal, Cuba, Colombia, Uganda and Germany, the issue highlights WBL artists, educators and cultural ambassadors engaged in teaching, performing and creating worldwide, alongside artist profiles, interviews and photo essays capturing hip-hop in motion across continents.

Contributors: Dominic Painter, Mazi Mutafa, Adrienne Bedsole, Erica Keith, Mikal Amin Lee, Kameron Matthews, Crystal Alexandra, Vivian Trinh, Richard Soben

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Publications, Cultural DiplomacyAdrienne BedsoleComment
The EQ. Magazine — Issue 4: 2040 Vision
The EQ. Magazine — Issue 4: 2040 Vision

Our Spring 2024 issue ofThe EQ. centers on Words Beats & Life’s vision for the future of hip-hop, highlighting global hip-hop education, cultural diplomacy and creative leadership. Featuring a cover story on the “Towards 2040: Creative Leaders Fellowship,” artist profiles, youth poetry, and photo essays from landmark events including DMV Hip-Hop’s 50th and Freshest of All Time Breaking Competition at the Kennedy Center, this issue documents how hip-hop functions as an outcome-driven cultural practice shaping education, equity and community worldwide.

Contributors: Dominic Painter, Mazi Mutafa, Adrienne Bedsole, Erica Keith, Mikal Amin Lee, Crystal Alexander, Richard Soben.

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Publications, For the CultureAdrienne BedsoleThe EQ., Towards 2040 Creative Leaders FellowshipComment