By Steven X
The Hip-Hop community is an entity that thrives due in large part to the innumerable number of fresh faces that come out to bring a new story or philosophy to the audience. In many stories of success for artists especially from Hip-Hop, there are testimonies of them rising to prominence by taking advantage of the local scene and honing their craft.
The DC Music Summit NPO is a representation of the creative platform that all artists can benefit from developing their musical ability as well as showmanship through performing at live shows.
DC native Dior Ashley Brown is an emcee that has earned her stripes firstly as an artist but in the past few years has transitioned to a role of activism on behalf of the Hip-Hop culture that she came from.
Dior is the founder of the DC Music Summit and has had a tremendous impact on educating and empowering artists who are looking to advance with their craft. The NPO recently won an award for their efforts from the DC Indie-based Wammies which highlights the exceptional talent in the DMV.
I was fortunate enough to have Dior give me some insight into her contributions to the DC Music Summit in addition to discussing the purpose and benefit of having NPOs that are based on community building.
Your NPO looks to give a true voice to many talented musicians regardless of their style of music. How much does your own experience as an artist influence the way you make your contributions?
“Good Question…
I didn’t fit the typical mode for the commercial industry. I wanted to do Hip-Hop, I wanted to tell my story, do me, I wanted to be a black woman in her true form, creating the art authentic to her heart. So I decided to create space and programming that accepted me wholly.
I wanted the support to learn aspects of the music industry, I wanted mentorship. When I asked questions to my peers in the music industry about how to be successful and thrive in the industry I wanted someone to break it down to me, early on I wasn’t fully aware of the term “crabs in a barrel,” but as I progressed in the field I quickly learned that was a common thing in the industry to not fully empower artists and share the knowledge.
In the past experiencing Outkast and the Dungeon Family, you’re better together. They created a unified sound movement that pierced into the mainstream. In our current local culture, there has been the mentality that there isn’t enough and that’s not true and I want to debunk the myth by actioning camaraderie.
I love being an artist. I love to perform. I don’t love that we don’t know our value, and others don’t respect our value and contributions as creatives. And it hurt, even more, to love something so much to want to do it all the time, and not be able to sustain from it. So I wanted to find ways to sustain and create space, network, to where I could work doing what I love and sustain.”
Given how much the pandemic shifted our means of consuming live music (from in-person concerts to digital shows), what do you believe to be the greatest challenges but also the greatest rewards that have come from the adjustments you and your NPO have had to make during this time?
“For me…the greatest challenges… loss ( which I know we all have somehow endured), losing our performance venues, not having regular constant gigs, the inability to jam with friends, the inability to travel and create new experiences, not being able to experience live performance and live art, networking, and life outside of social media.
The greatest rewards… building a team that supports my brand and my art, still being able to create music and visuals in the pandemic, music that has kept our spirits alive, I’ve created #musicforthemovement with the support of my community. It’s a playlist for those fighting to preserve Black Lives, getting on IG live to talk to some of the artists that inspired me like Fat Joe, LL Cool J, Sharaya J, Sway, and more, still performing at the Wammies and getting a Wammie for “Best Hip Hop Artist”. But also SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH FAMILY, intentional, self-care, focusing within, rest, planning, organizing, transforming, evolving. FOR THAT ALONE I AM GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL.
For DCMS…The greatest challenges… constant zoom meetings, not meeting the team in person regularly, having to do interviews through phone and zoom to catch the vibe, not being able to have the summit in person like we did last year and it was freaking amazing.
The greatest rewards….gaining so many new awesome team members who are working hard to make DCMS awesome for the creative community, the fact that we found a way to be a team and connect and be tight virtually, We meet and talk and connect like we are in the same office and its dope, the fact that we will still be doing a Summit this year and the virtual summit is going to be amazing, and yes that fact that in our fourth year we have been recognized for an award the Wammie “Do Good Award”. I am full of gratitude.”
Based on the popularity, success, and accolades that you have achieved in your efforts of hosting the DC Music Summit, what do you see as the best possible outcome for the NPO as a creative hub space?
“DCMS is a thought leader. We are the number one resource and connector. We are currently connecting with other organizations and are becoming a force that truly supports the creative community, getting them the tools and resources they need to feel empowered. Artists have space to be heard and are a part of growing our organization, and we are accessible to everyone.”
Independent artists are often at the core of shaping how mainstream culture will go in terms of what is in style and dope. How important is the presence of the DC Music Summit relating to showing the music world what will be prevalent next?
“DC Music Summit is the future, creative entrepreneurship, artists have more options and need to know how to build sustainability. They don’t have to wait on labels or a wave to be hot, and even with labels they want you ready to go, they don’t do much artist development anymore.
So your future and what you want is for you to claim and is dependent or contingent upon your urgency, but you still need an ecosystem, you still need a space to stay on the up and up, and DCMS wants to be the space for community, networking, and resources.”
What advice can you give to people or other artists who may be interested in starting a community-building NPO like DC Music Summit?
“My advice, join the community orgs, and groups that inspire you, that you take interest in. Learn the ins and outs, make connections, do the work and do it well. Always enter the opportunity willing to learn and be open. Find someone in that space you can learn from that can mentor you, ask lots of questions and take notes.”
In seeing the growth of the DMS and Dior as a mentor and activist for artists, it is apparent that there are multiple means of connecting with your audience and making a difference as a creative.
To stay up to date with Dior Ashley Brown and the DC Music Summit you can follow on Social Media @dcmusicsummit and @diorashleybrown (Twitter and Instagram).
Photography credit to Caroline Marney.