California Humanities is proud to highlight this conversation from our partners at Zócalo Public Square, Arizona State University, and California Forward (CA FWD), in partnership with Stocktonia.
Hip-hop is big business—venturing from the world’s grandest stages into sponsorships, nightlife, real estate, and sports. From Dr. Dre’s headphone empire to Jay-Z’s evolution from “businessman” to “business, man,” hip-hop has become a driving force in culture and commerce. But is it also America’s greatest success story?
Join Robeson Taj Frazier, Director of USC’s Annenberg Institute for Difference and Empowerment in the Arts, as he moderates this timely conversation on how hip-hop shapes Black business, economic mobility, and California’s diverse creative economies.
This event opens the 2025 California Economic Summit and will be followed by a reception at Banner Island Ballpark hosted by the San Joaquin Partnership, featuring live music, drinks, and bites.
This program is part of California 175 — What Connects California?, a series of free events and essays from Zócalo Public Square.
