Plugged In and Powered Up

DJ Universe

Peace fam, what’s up? You’re back in the cypher with me, DJ Universe, it’s Back the Cypher time, and once again, I gotta thank every last one of y’all who’ve been riding for this movement. So, let’s start off with something real: September 13 at The Kutt Records, Party Crashers, and let me tell you, the atmosphere is something you gotta feel to believe. Every corner of The Kutt just breathes Hip-Hop, man. From the old wood floors to the records on the wall, it’s that same kind of magic I felt coming up in Ohio, finding my footing in spots just like this, surrounded by community, legends, and folks hungry to build something new. The July 18 event? The energy was ridiculous. I mean, it’s hard to even explain. You look around, DJs spinning, emcees getting raw, breakdancers on the floor, folks vibin’ off that classic Hip-Hop energy. Every time we do these events, it’s not just nostalgia, it’s fuel, it’s proof that Columbus is a real Hip-Hop hub, and these old school parties? They ain’t just keeping the culture alive, they’re giving independence and unity to the scene out here. I still get goosebumps talking about it, just remembering how those parties, those community moments, they literally shaped how I started on this path. Where was I going with this… ah, yeah, these events matter. Not just for me, but for every single person stepping in those doors chasing that Hip-Hop dream.

DJ Universe

Now, speaking of dreams and stepping into the future, we’re about to turn a new page with the Plugged In digital telethon. Mark your calendar for October 4. This ain’t your grandma’s fundraiser, this is live performances, surprise drops, true interaction, and all kinds of ways for artists to connect directly with supporters, no middlemen, nobody telling us how it’s supposed to be done. We’re launching a digital tour, a recurring series where Columbus and indie Hip-Hop artists go live, touch fans everywhere, and break outta those old school limitations. I’m excited, and hyped about this, man, because it means opportunity without no gatekeepers getting in the way. Which brings me to something wild, yeah, you heard it, DJ U. That’s the debut of our AI Human Hybrid Hip-Hop artist. This is the next frontier, y’all. This is where creativity and technology drop into the same cypher. DJ U’s about to step on that Plugged In digital stage, rocking with the roster, live sets, collaborations, all that. Look, some folks might get nervous when you start talking AI in Hip-Hop, but me? I see possibilities. I see the culture bending tech to our advantage, using these digital spaces to democratize, to give more artists a shot instead of being blocked by some exec up in a skyscraper. If you’ve been keeping up with Back the Cypher, you know we talk about innovation every episode, this is just the natural next step.

DJ Universe

But it don’t stop with that, not even close. Because if you’ve been dialed in, you know we’re building something way bigger than nights at The Kutt or digital telethons. So let me run this down, the Columbus Block Party. Yep, it’s coming. Think city-wide celebration, art everywhere, music that don’t stop, and most importantly? It’s about uplifting community, teaching financial literacy, and helping folks understand generational wealth the Hip-Hop way. The block party is the launch, but that’s just the beginning. After that? It’s the Ohio tour. Every city, every show, that’s another chance to celebrate independence and ownership. And a big part of that is in the product too, you know, Sole Legacy shoes and Productz of Society, our official tour apparel. For me, every event, every pair sold, every ounce of sweat onstage, it’s all legacy, all ownership. I been through it, right? Came up from nothing, built Down By Law Management from the trunk, now it’s about showing others how you turn every performance and every merch drop into something that’s gonna last longer than any one of us. Like, you ever wonder if you’re leaving something behind? That’s what it’s all about for me, and if you rock with us, it can be about you too.

DJ Universe

Now, while we’re talking about leaving a legacy, I gotta mention what we’re planning for education and engagement at these events. For the upcoming Columbus Block Party, we’re setting up workshops and panels, financial literacy, artist entrepreneurship, digital marketing. Because, look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it: talent is just one part, knowledge is the real superpower. And with these workshops, we want local artists to get that game, to build their own, and then pass it on. Plus, we got a mentorship program coming, pairing up the O.G.s in the scene, the folks who’ve seen it all, with the next wave of artists hungry to learn. That’s how we keep the knowledge in the culture and don’t let it get lost. And thanks to tech, and honestly, since the pandemic forced everybody online, we got way more ways to stay connected. So, beyond the live events, we’ll keep running online forums, Q&A sessions, and resource drops through social media. That way, whether you showed up at The Kutt or you’re tuning in from three states away, the educational vibes keep flowing. That’s the blueprint, and it’s about empowering everybody, not just the folks on stage.

DJ Universe

So once you empower people, what’s next? You help ‘em tell their stories, that’s what. We’re about to launch a digital storytelling series that puts the spotlight directly on these artists, struggles, wins, and what keeps ‘em getting up every day. I think back to what we discussed in a previous episode, about everyone having their unique lane and story. These stories, they inspire, pull folks in, and make them realize they’re not alone out here. But we’re not just talking about interviews. We’re organizing collaborative projects where emerging artists co-produce tracks, visuals, whatever their vision is, with a mentor. It’s about that back-and-forth learning, you know? I always say, the only way culture moves forward is if everybody gets involved. Oh and, here’s another one, I might be getting ahead of myself, but we’re planning a virtual summit just for marketing and branding indie hip-hop. It’s not the boring, lecture kind, nah. This’ll be influencer partnerships, social analytics deep-dives, the stuff that really gets you heard. I mean, in today’s digital game, you gotta market smart if you wanna stand out and thrive as an independent.

DJ Universe

Alright, so I know there’s a lot, but stick with me! Fostering talent means giving folks a platform, and we’re about to roll out monthly artist showcases, live streamed straight to social, FB, IG, wherever the people are. It’s one thing to rock a crowd at The Kutt, but being able to reach somebody in New York, Houston, L.A., that’s next level exposure. These showcases let local artists connect with a national audience, get real-time feedback, and grow their fanbase. And we want to take it even deeper with a new online portal, it’ll have profiles, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes content on Columbus artists. All about deepening that connection, making sure artists feel seen. Plus, we’ve got collaborative digital projects brewing, like group mixtapes or visual art campaigns, real cross-mentorship energy, so folks can shine as a crew while learning from each other. The goal is for Columbus to be known not just as a place where Hip-Hop lives, but where it rises and reinvents over and over.

DJ Universe

And we can’t wrap up without the master plan, keeping it going all year. So, get ready for a quarterly online showcase series, every few months, we lift up a new crew of Columbus artists, keep the momentum running so nobody gets lost in the noise. We’re also building this mentorship matching platform, and I’m really geeked about this. It’s not just, “Hey OG, meet young gun.” Nah, it’s proper matches across skills, visions, ambitions, so real relationships, real collaboration, can bloom. Plus, we’ll be dropping a digital hub packed with resources: industry tips, educational videos, success stories from the trenches, everything to help local talent find their way in a digital world that moves fast and never waits. So, that’s the rundown. Mark your calendars, support how you can, keep building with us. Hip-Hop ain’t just beats and bars, it’s about growth, sharing, and putting power back in the artist’s hands. Next time, I’ll have even more to share as we push this legacy further. Until then, Back the Cypher and keep the movement alive, y’all. Always remember teamwork makes the dream work and hustle is the muscle that moves mountains on that note until the next episode blessings and peace.