Toni Blackman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Toni Blackman
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Blackman in 2023
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Miss Blackman T-lala Virgo One |
| Born | Pittsburg, California, U.S. |
| Origin | San Francisco Bay Area, California |
| Genres | Hip hop, hip hop soul, global hip hop, spoken word |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, lyricist, MC, freestyle MC, songwriter, poet, educator, author |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Labels | Independent Ear |
| Associated acts | Freestyle Union, Daughters of the Cipher, Hip Hop Arts Movement (HHAM), Rhyme like a Girl, Earthdriver |
Toni Blackman is an American rapper and writer. She is known for her freestyle hip-hop skills. She made history as the first hip-hop ambassador for the U.S. State Department.
In 2006, Toni was chosen as a touring artist for a program called The Rhythm Road. Later, she helped pick other artists for American Music Abroad, which used to be known as Rhythm Road by Jazz at Lincoln Center.
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Toni Blackman's Journey
Toni Blackman was the first Hip Hop Cultural Envoy to travel with the U.S. State Department. This means she was like a special representative for hip hop culture. She visited many countries, including Senegal, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Botswana, and Swaziland. In these places, she gave talks about hip hop music and its culture.
Traveling the World with Music
Toni also traveled across Europe, Angola, Brazil, Canada, and Southeast Asia. Her Southeast Asia tour included the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Taiwan. She was part of the Rhythm Road program by Jazz at Lincoln Center. Through this program, she worked in areas affected by conflict. Her goal was to help people come together and heal through music.
Inspiring Others Through Hip Hop
Toni Blackman started an organization called Freestyle Union. This group uses freestyle rap to teach people about being responsible in their communities. She received two important awards for her work.
She was a fellow with the Echoing Green Foundation and the Open Society Institute. Through these programs, she launched "Rhyme Like A Girl." This project helps young women express themselves through hip hop.
Toni was also a pioneer in hip hop theater. In 1992, while at Howard University, she founded the Hip Hop Arts Movement (HHAM). She has performed at the Hip Hop Theater Festival. She also helped write a play called "Hip Hop Nightmares of Jujube Brown." Toni is also a member of a committee for the Recording Academy in New York.
Performances and Collaborations
Toni Blackman has performed with many famous artists. These include Erykah Badu, Mos Def, Guru, The Roots, and Wu Tang. She has also performed at events like the Lilith Fair and Def Poetry. Her performances have taken her to well-known venues like the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and Lincoln Center in New York.
In 2009, Toni spoke at an international conference in Italy. In 2010, she led a special art program for girls from Liberia, Sudan, Somalia, and the United States. She also spoke at Harvard University. She even worked with an Azerbaijani rap group called Dayirman on a song.
Featured in Research
Toni Blackman was featured in a scholarly article in 2015. This article was about girls and hip-hop online video culture. It was written by a music and social media expert named Kyra Gaunt.
