Freestyle specialist, Toni Blackman, is the first Hip Hop artist selected to work as a Cultural Ambassador with the US Department of State and a leading expert on Cyphers. Her experiences as a diplomatic worker, enables her to move through various communities (the arts, political circles, international gatherings, youth groups, academia, music industry, etc). Toni is an expert curator and convener of artists and people, whose vision for Hip Hop blends classic placemaking with artistic and self-development as a way for individuals and communities to experience transformation and healing. Her new book, Wisdom of the Cypher, will be released in Nov 2015 along with the album!

As an official Hip hop Envoy and a part of the ACULSPEC program, she has traveled throughout South Africa, Botswana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Swaziland, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, performing and working in 40 different countries. Toni’s early work with the department heavily influenced what is now a comprehensive Hip Hop diplomacy program. She has also served as a juror for the American Music Abroad tour, for ExchangesConnect, an international cultural arts competition, and has been consulted on selection of talent from both North America and Africa for various department initiatives.

An Echoing Green Fellow alum, Open Society Institute Fellow alum, creator of Freestyle Union Cipher Workshop and Rhyme like a Girl, Toni is both highly respected as an artist and social entrepreneur. She was honored as a Real Woman in Dove Soap’s 2012 North American Campaign and spoke at the Pio Manzu Conference in Italy, at the World Social Forum in Barcelona and at the Aspen Institute’s Summit on Creativity in Oman. She has spoken at the UN, at Senator Warner’s Women’s Conference, Chicago IDEAS, and delivered 2 TED talks . Toni is currently a teaching artist at Carnegie Hall, leads workshops, lectures and performs.