Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1498689
sagaftra.org | Fall/Winter 2022 | SAG-AFTRA 55 H ip-hop may have started out in the parks and block parties of New York's five boroughs, but in the span of a half century, it has not only evolved in sound, with different regions adding their own style and flavors, but it has transformed different mediums, including film and television. It's only right that this historic music genre was celebrated where music, television, film and innovation collide: SXSW in Austin, Texas. And it was more than fitting that SAG-AFTRA be the one to bring the party to the festival. On March 14, the union hosted What to Know: Royalties, Rights & Recording Artists with SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and fellow panelists, artist Armani White, talent representative Dan Resnick and Billboard Chief Brand Officer Dana Droppo. The group talked about today's music landscape, the importance of professional representation, different revenue streams for artists, including royalties, and the ways SAG-AFTRA helps performers navigate a successful career. The following evening, SAG-AFTRA presented Hip-Hop's Next & Now showcase, a partnership between Def Jam Recordings and VIBE magazine. Rapper and SAG-AFTRA member Jadakiss headlined the event, which featured a who's who of Def Jam talent: White, D. Sturdy & Philly Goats, Pap Chanel, Lil Migo, SwaVay and Marqus Clae. The event attracted hip-hop aficionados, among them Kurtis Blow, a genre pioneer and co-founder of artist collective the Hip-Hop Alliance. Blow addressed the crowd and thrilled them with an impromptu performance of hip-hop classic The Breaks. The alliance entered into a strategic partnership with SAG-AFTRA last year to build a better future for hip-hop artists. Right, rapper Jadakiss headlines the Def Jam Recordings and VIBE magazine Hip-Hop's Next & Now SXSW showcase presented by SAG-AFTRA. Below, Armani White, left, brings high energy to his explosive set. TIM MOSENFELDER/GETTY IMAGES FOR VIBE X DEF JAM RECORDINGS CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS!