BAM Presents Word. Sound. Power. 2024: SOUND—Rhythm is Rhythm

Featuring Performances by Hetep BarBoy, Kumbaya, JSWISS and Music by DJ Reborn

March 13, 2024 Special from Brooklyn Academy of Music

(Front L-R) Baba Israel and LuQuantumleap (Back L-R) Jovannie Syreetta Smith and Gabriel Ramirez performing in BAM’s Word. Sound. Power. 2019
Photo: Terrence Jennings

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BROOKLYN — Prepare for an unparalleled fusion of beats, rhymes, and raw energy as BAM presents “Word. Sound. Power. 2024: SOUND—Rhythm is Rhythm,” featuring an impressive lineup of artists including Hetep BarBoy, Kumbaya, and JSWISS. With longtime director, co-curator, and host MC Baba Israel alongside DJ Reborn, this annual hip-hop and spoken word showcase promises an unforgettable experience at BAM Fisher on April 19th and 20th at 7:30 p.m.

Curated with an eye on the pulsating dialogue between beats and rhymes, this edition draws inspiration from the rich legacy of The Last Poets and the vibrant tradition of the hip-hop cypher. The Last Poets, often hailed as the forefathers of hip-hop, emerged in the late 1960s with powerful spoken-word performances that gave Black America its voice amidst social and political upheaval. Their influence continues to resonate in the rhythms and messages of contemporary artists.

“Hip-hop embodies an ongoing dialogue between the beat and the community. Sometimes it’s the rhyme that answers back, while other times, it’s the body that continues the discussion,” said Mikal Amin Lee, co-curator and BAM Education Manager. “This year, we aim to spotlight the dynamic conversation between beats and rhymes in the spirit of The Last Poets, the block, and the cypher. Whether expressed through the ones or the mic, the essence remains the same: rhythm is rhythm.”

The lineup boasts an array of talent who will perform new and existing work from their solo catalogs. Hetep BarBoy, a prodigious nine-year-old emcee and a testament to the generational passage of hip-hop’s torch; Kumbaya, a lyricist who weaves tales of resilience and self-trust; and JSWISS, an emcee whose work at the intersection of hip-hop, jazz, and soul exemplifies the genre’s boundless potential. These artists, along with student poets from Brooklyn public schools, will bring to life stories of agency, creativity, and cultural celebration.

“Word. Sound. Power.” is more than a performance; it’s a movement, echoing the beats and bars that have shaped and been shaped by communities for decades. The program promises a 70-minute showcase followed by a 20-minute Q&A with the artists, providing insight into their creative processes and the impact of hip-hop culture across generations.

Join us at BAM Fisher for a journey through the rhythm of resistance and the melody of storytelling, where the legacy of The Last Poets meets the future of hip-hop. Tickets for “Word. Sound. Power. 2024: SOUND—Rhythm is Rhythm” start at $25. For more information, please visit BAM.org.

About the artists

Hetep “Bar-Boy.”Photo courtesy of Hetep “Bar-Boy” — Hetep “Bar-Boy.”
Photo courtesy of Hetep “Bar-Boy”

Hetep BarBoy is an eight-year-old MC from Brooklyn who studied at Universityofthestreets.net in the Bronx at the tender age of two when his father, Squala Orphan, was teaching a hip-hop culture learning program for youth. BarBoy embodied the art, becoming the world’s youngest MC. He recently released his debut album, “Nepotism,” produced by Taliboom Works and Erick Sermon.

JSWISS.Photo: Brice Blanloeil — JSWISS.
Photo: Brice Blanloeil

JSWISS, the versatile emcee, seamlessly merges hip-hop, jazz, and soul, captivating audiences worldwide. From the Apollo Theater to the Blue Note Jazz Club, he’s shared stages with legends like Elvis Costello and Keyon Harrold. His “Awthentic” brand of music has received recognition from The Source, NPR Music, and others. Collaborating with top instrumentalists, JSWISS is praised for his storytelling and wordplay, tackling topics from Black history to mental health. His recent projects with Michael Leonhart and Sly5thAve showcase his dynamic artistry. As an artist-educator and adjunct professor, JSWISS shares his expertise globally, leaving an indelible mark on the next generation.

Kumbaya.Photo courtesy of Kumbaya — Kumbaya.
Photo courtesy of Kumbaya

Kumbaya is a native New Yorker, lyricist, and musician who doesn’t remember when they started but does remember when they stopped. Now that they acknowledge, accept and repeat, they’ve dedicated their creativity to the importance of self-trust and self-teaching. They shine light on circumstances that cause us to lose the trust we’re born with, like the myth of laziness, lessons disguised as mistakes and the amount of truth within a lie — all while cleverly dropping gems on how to get over, how to get through and how to get back to you. Working with legendary artists such as Havoc from Mobb Deep, Pharoahe Monch, Rottweiler, and AbSoul, Kumbaya is a made-up word attached to one of the realest human beings.

Baba Israel performing in BAM’s Word.Sound.Power in 2023.Photo: Daniel J. Vasquez — Baba Israel performing in BAM’s Word. Sound. Power. in 2023.
Photo: Daniel J. Vasquez

Hailing from New York City, Baba Israel is a multitalented emcee whose parents were core members of the Living Theatre. He’s shared stages with musical heavyweights, including Outkast, The Roots, Ron Carter, and Arturo O’Farrill, and is a core member of the Hip-Hop/Soul project Soul Inscribed. He has toured as an emcee, beatboxer, and theater artist across North and South America, Europe, Africa, Australia, and Asia. Baba Israel has served as the host and director of Word. Sound. Power for more than ten years.

DJ Reborn performing in BAM’s Word.Sound.Power in 2023.Photo: Daniel J. Vasquez — DJ Reborn performing in BAM’s Word. Sound. Power. in 2023.
Photo: Daniel J. Vasquez

DJ Reborn is a musical artist, arts educator, and sonic activist. Known as the tour DJ for Ms. Lauryn Hill, she is also the founder of a collective working toward racial justice through the art of DJing, DJs for Justice. Throughout her career, DJ Reborn has left an indelible mark, mentoring teen girls at Urban Word NYC and designing curriculum as a DJ instructor at Dubspot. Her dynamic skill set has led her to open for esteemed artists like The Roots, John Legend and Erykah Badu. She’s spun for renowned visual artists and graced major stages, from BET and the Kennedy Center to the Apollo Theater and the Sydney Opera House. In the theater world, DJ Reborn’s live soundscapes have amplified the impact of projects like Eve Ensler’s “V-Day” and Howard Zinn’s “Voices of a People.” She’s served as musical director for notable productions like Will Power’s “FLOW” and toured with the Tony Award-winning “Def Poetry Jam.”