A Life in Hip-Hop is a project and platform about celebrating 50 years of this culture and art form.
ART, CULTURE & INSPIRATION
In 2023, we launched A Life in Hip-Hop—a personal project and talk show that celebrated 50 years of hip-hop and explored what it means to fully embody a culture as part of one’s life journey.
More than just a “top 50” list, A Life in Hip-Hop is about honoring the artists who have shaped and inspired us, while documenting the moments that fueled Mike Nicholls’ passion for the culture. This project weaves together interviews, conversations, and reflections that highlight hip-hop’s impact on art, identity, and community.
Through intimate discussions with artists like Armand Hammer, Saul Williams, and Souls of Mischief, we dive deep into the creative minds that have contributed to the genre’s legacy. The talk show, filmed in Oakland, CA, also features a special conversation between Mike Nicholls and Richmond, CA-based hip-hop artist Mani Draper—an exploration of artistry, culture, and the evolution of hip-hop as a lived experience.
But this is bigger than one person’s story. Hip-hop is a collective experience. A Life in Hip-Hop is an opportunity for reflection—on your own relationship to this culture, or any genre of music that has shaped your journey.
Rap music has been one of the most vital artistic expressions of Black and Brown lives, youth culture, and resistance. But hip-hop is more than just rap—it’s community, creativity, and the power of storytelling. In chronicling my own experience, I’ve come to realize that community is just as essential as the music itself in defining what hip-hop means to me.
Join us in celebrating the past, present, and future of hip-hop.