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BAMS Fest – Toki Wright x ZURI
September 12th @ 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Toki Wright is a two-time Emmy Award-winning MC, poet, producer, and cultural diplomat. He has received two CLIO Award for advertising with General Mills for the number one worldwide Twitter trending project “Watch the Stove” which was also nominated for a Cannes Lion Award. Wright is currently the chair of the Professional Music Department at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Before relocating he was the Department Head of the United States’ first fully accredited Hip-Hop Studies program at McNally Smith College of Music. The program was awarded the “Best Transformative Higher Learning Model” from the Hip-Hop Education Center at NYU. Toki also facilitated seven Twin Cities Celebration of Hip-Hop Festivals and helped establish “Hip-Hop at H.E.A.L.S,” a program for former child soldiers in Gulu, Northern Uganda.
Toki’s worked with the US State Department, delivered a TED Talk, and ran the youth-led nonprofit YO! The Movement, helping to build community through the arts. Toki is a freelance writer, radio host and has been a judge for NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest, and a community organizer. He’s released albums and film through his media company Soul Tools Entertainment that have charted top 50 on MTV, iTunes, and more. Wright has performed at events like Coachella, Rock The Bells and more while sharing stages with the likes of Lizzo, Terri Lyne Carrington, Atmosphere, the late Sean Price, and J-Live. Toki has released recordings with Talib Kweli, BJ The Chicago Kid, and G Yamazawa to name a few.
Songwriter, storyteller, sound innovator, bassist, and vocalist. Hailing from the south, ZURI is a 20-year old music artist from Atlanta, Georgia. With influences from contemporary jazz, neo soul, and R&B, and inspiration from artist’s such as Moonchild, Robert Glasper, and Lalah Hathaway, her sound is uncommon and a fresh find you didn’t even know you needed to hear. She is currently completing her final year at Berklee College of Music, with a BA in Professional Music, with concentrations in Music Business and Production. She recently released her debut single, “inside”, which is a fusion of modern day jazz and Neo-soul, which can be found on all streaming platforms.