Drew Dixon: In The Room Where It Happens

Drew Dixon: In the Room Where It Happens is a keynote conversation with one of hip hop's most influential — and most overlooked — architects. As a former VP of A&R at Def Jam and Arista Records, Drew Dixon helped shape some of the most iconic records in music history, working alongside artists like Whitney Houston, Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige, Notorious B.I.G., John Legend and Kanye West. She was in the room where hip hop crossed over, broke boundaries, and changed culture forever — but her story, like those of so many Black women in the industry, was nearly erased. In this keynote, Drew speaks candidly about what it meant to be a woman holding creative power in hip hop's golden era, the cost of speaking truth to that power, and what it looks like to reclaim your voice and your legacy.

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Host or Publisher International Festival of Arts & Ideas