Words Beats & Life Podcasts

In this episode of the Something to Say podcast, host, Mazi Mutafa, speaks with Martha Diaz Founder of the Hip-Hop Education Center. They discuss Martha’s trajectory as an activist and social organizer in the hip-hop community.

Later, Mazi sits down with Suzan E. Jenkins the CEO of the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County. They discuss the important work of the Arts & Humanities Council...

In this episode of "Something to Say": co-host, Patrick Washington interviews Kashvi Ramani, Arlington County's 2022 Youth Poet Laureate.

Host, Mazi Mutafa, speaks with Stan "Substantial" Robinson about creatives navigating the changes occurring in our government.

Patrick interviews multi-disciplinary art...

In this episode of the "Something to Say" podcast, our host, Mazi Mutafa, interviews marketing strategist, Gloria Nauden. They discuss the DMV's cultural impact on both the U.S. and the globe.

Mazi also interviews communications professional, Mercy Chikowore. They discuss how to craft compelling stories and how to get the media to be interested in your product.

Co-host Patrick Washington speaks with youth poet Saniya Pearson.

Thank...

In this episode of the "Something to Say" podcast, our host Mazi Mutafa sits down with an important DJ in our region DJ Shablast along with one of Mazi's mentors, Hodari B. Davis. They discuss Shablast's journey as a DJ and the work Hodari is doing in Oakland, California, while he finishes his doctoral program.  

Co-host Patrick Washington speaks with the 2023 Youth Poet Laureate for Washington D.C., Sophia Hall and Poet Chimwekele...

In this episode of the “Something to Say” podcast, our host, Mazi Mutafa, speaks with poet Toni Asante Lightfoot. They talk about the U Street poetry scene, getting into poetry during college, transitioning from being a poet to an organizer, Chinese Medicine, the importance of uplifting communities, and the value of communal healing. 

Mazi speaks with MC Mikal Amin Lee

Co-host Patrick Washi...

In this episode of the “Something to Say Podcast” our host, Mazi Mutafa, opens up the phone lines and asks listeners to call in and reflect on the past year.

Co-host Patrick Washington speaks with educator, writer, and performance artist, Dr. Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman. They talk about Khadijah’s appointment as the Prince George’s County Poet Laureate, becoming an arts educator, her ongoing projects, starti...

In this episode of the “Something to Say” podcast, host, Mazi Mutafa, Speaks with Ugandan hip-hop artist Babaluku and Howard University Professor, Dr. Msia Clark. They discuss the recent hip-hop conference, the Bavubuka foundation, what community based work looks like within the framework of hip-hop culture, uplifting local artists via podcasting, encouraging more indigenous language articles to boost various voices w...

In this episode of the “Something to Say” podcast, our host, Mazi Mutafa, speaks with Prowess the Testament and Substantial. They discuss the importance of conventions and their connection to hip-hop culture, the intersection of hip-hop and anime, how Japanese technology has influenced the world of hip-hop, how Japan has been influenced by the African American community, how anime and K-pop are introducing American au...

In this episode of the “Something to Say” podcast, our host, Mazi Mutafa, sits down with Columbian born, DMV based artists, MasPaz. They discuss how he got into art, how graffiti helped him develop his voice and identity, the inspirations and influences on his art, finding the balance between working and relaxing, how art has allowed MasPaz to travel, and the origin of the name “MasPaz.”

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In this episode of the “Something to Say” podcast, our host, Mazi Mutafa, speaks with our WBL Academy Director, Donney Rose and WBL Marketing and Communications Director, Dominic Painter. They discuss the importance of giving young people a voice, Donney's creative process, and the new generation of poets. Dominic discusses how the ways in which organizations engage with youth have changed over time.

In this episode of the “Something to Say” podcast, co-host, Patrick Washington, speaks with 2024 Montgomery County Youth Poet Laureate, Tara Prakash. They discuss Tara’s poetry journey, the inspirations behind her poetry, and she shares one of her poems. 

Patrick sits down Sainey Ceesay, the 2021 Youth Poet Laureate for Prince George’s County, poet Jordan, 2023 Virginia state Youth Poet Laureate, Kashvi Ramani, and poets Saniya P...

In this episode of the “Something to Say” podcast, Co-host Patrick Washington, speaks with poet Princess Best. Princess discusses how she got started in the arts, her experience with theater, uplifting women, discovering her artistic persona, she shares her remix of a Nicki Minaj song, and she also discusses balancing work and personal life.

Patrick sits down with 2019 Prince George’s County Youth Poet Laureate, Project MC, and 2...

In this episode of the “Something to Say” podcast, our host, Mazi Mutafa is joined by Manny Faces, Founder of The Center for Hip-Hop Advocacy. They discuss how Manny got interested in the New York hip-hop scene, how to foster discussion between different generations of hip-hop listeners, what makes podcasting so important, and hip-hop’s influence on politics.

Co-host Patrick Washington speaks with poet Amasa Maleski, and 2023 You...

In this episode of the “Something to Say” podcast, our host, Mazi Mutafa, speaks with our Academy Director, Donney Rose. They have a quick discussion about our academy. After that Mazi speaks with the founder of Heal the Hood, Emile Jansen. They discuss how Emile got started in the arts and activism, grappling with government suppression of information, and the Hip-Hop as Healing festival.

Patrick Washington interviews the 2024 W...

In this episode of the “Something to Say” podcast, our co-host, Patrick Washington starts off the episode with an interview with poet, Kenny Carroll.

Mazi speaks with our WBL Academy director Donney Rose. They discuss Donney’s experience working in DC, what it means to be a programmer, differences in support for the arts across the country, securing grant funding, 

Patrick Washington speaks with poet Kiara Ramirez.

Mazi is jo...

In this episode of the “Something to Say” podcast, our host, Mazi Mutafa, speaks with Samora Pinderhughes, the Executive Director of The Healing Project. They discuss how Samora got interested in the arts and activism, and The Healing Project. 

Co-host Patrick Washington speaks with the 2021 Prince George’s County Youth Poet Laureate, Sainey Ceesay, and rapper, poet, scholar, and activist, Malachi Byrd. 

Mazi Speaks with two me...

In this episode of the “Something to Say” podcast, our host, Mazi Mutafa, sits down with two producers of the show, Sydni Mingo and Donney Rose, as well as WPFW news reporter Chris Bangert-Drowns, and Alorie Clark of the DC Collaborative. They discuss the impact of the show on young people, pursuing a career in the arts and art administration, the importance of listener funded public radio, and the DC Collaborative.

Co-host Patri...

In this episode of the “Something to Say” podcast, our host, Mazi Mutafa, sits down with Faith, a Words Beats and Life Academy student and Dr. Msia Clark, a professor at Howard University. They discuss the WBL Academy, the new hip-hop minor which will be available at Howard University, the evolution of racial identity throughout the world, Dr. Clark’s new book, and how hip-hop is changing throughout generations.

Up next, we hear ...