Registration now closed

Women Behind The Mic: A Celebration of Women in Hip Hop

Panel Discussion and Musical Performance

This Women's History Month, join DC Public Library for a panel discussion featuring veteran music execs followed by a special musical performance by Grammy-nominated artist, YO-YO.

Honor the history and impact of hip-hop, as well as the engines behind some of the most iconic artists of all time during this conversation with Jamise Harper, Dr. LaJoyce Brookshire, Pamela Crockett, Thomasina Perkins, Audra Washington Madison. 

Join us as we celebrate the voices excluded during the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and get to know their front-row seat stories while working behind the scenes with some of the biggest names in entertainment. Following the panel discussion, DJ Heat will provide the vibes with a special guest performance by Grammy-nominated hip-hop entertainer, actress, educator, and philanthropist, YO-YO.

This program is brought to you by the DC Public Library Foundation and the Anacostia Community Museum. Free copies of the book will distributed to select attendees.

This event will have an American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation. For reasonable accommodations, please contact the Center for Accessibility at least seven (7) days in advance at 202-727-2142 or DCPLaccess@dc.gov

About the Book

Women Behind The Mic: Curators of Pop Culture ~Volume One "Word To The Wise" and Volume Two "The Hip Hop Edition contains the stories of veteran Executives who were the engines behind the most iconic artists of all time. They are the industry "Sheroes" who quietly toiled in the trenches who have curated what is known as Hip Hop and Pop Culture today. Propelled by a Sisterhood that personifies excellence and the importance of maintaining a positive self-esteem while working in a male-dominated industry, the Women Behind The Mic™ share their front row seat stories while working behind-the-scenes with some of the biggest names in entertainment.

Mary J. Blige, Salt-N-Pepa, The Notorious B.I.G., SWV, A Tribe Called Quest, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Run DMC, Too Short, and Aliyah are just a few of the names found on these pages. After finding themselves repeatedly left out of recent Documentaries and Biopics, the Women Behind The Mic™ Movement/Book/Docu-Series/Lecture Series was birthed. These women now tell their own stories about the contributions women have made in significant ways to popular music and culture collectively. They have not only developed and made stars, but their joint efforts have led to trillions of records sold worldwide.

About the Musical Guests

Yolanda "Yo-Yo" Whitaker

DR. YOLANDA “YO-YO” WHITAKER is a Grammy-nominated hip-hop entertainer, actress, educator, and philanthropist. The cast member of VH1’s popular “Love & Hip Hop Hollywood” series is affectionately known as Auntie Yo-Yo. Raised in the South Central district of Los Angeles, her big break came when she appeared on Ice Cube's 1990 debut, "It's A Man's World," represents her gender in admirable style. Her debut “Make Way for the Motherload” introduced her confident attitude along with the formation of the Intelligent Black Women’s Coalition organization, which is now expanding into the virtual space to continue its work helping young girls learn to love themselves. Her songs “You Can’t Play With My YoYo,” “Bonnie & Clyde Theme” with Ice Cube, and her iconic features on Jamaican goddess Patra’s hit song “Romantic Call” and Brandy’s “I Wanna Be Down” remix with MC Lyte and Queen Latifah are classics.

DJ Heat

The nation’s capitol has a hometown hero that spins, scratches and blends music while staunchly staying true to her roots. You can’t mute D.C. and you can’t mute DJ Heat. This skilled talent was just 13-years-old when she first discovered her interest in turntables courtesy of a Wreckx-N-Effect classic. She then went from fantasizing about spinning records to the real thing. An indelible spark was lit and a summer of saved paychecks led to her ultimately following her path and pursuing her passion. That small spark created a full- on flame, and DJ Heat took purposeful steps to align herself with her dream. 

About the Panelists

Jamise Harper

Jamise Harper is the creator of the #diversepines hashtag and the Diverse Spines® book community which highlights literature by Black women and women of color. She is the co-author (with Jane Mount) of Bibliophile: Diverse Spines, a richly illustrated and vastly inclusive collection that uplifts the works of authors who are often underrepresented in the literary world. Jamise is also the founder of Spines & Vines®, a social media platform dedicated to enhancing reading experiences with curated book and wine pairings. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and lives in the Washington, DC metro area.

Dr. LaJoyce Brookshire 

LaJoyce Brookshire began her career as a high-powered Entertainment Radio Producer and Program Creator for American Urban Radio Networks. Her record label experience includes PolyGram Records, Hush Productions, and Director of Publicity at Arista Records handling artists such as The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Toni Braxton, Kenny G, OutKast, Monica, Deborah Cox, Craig Mack, Total, Faith Evans, 112, Usher, TLC, Whitney Houston, and The Notorious B.I.G., to name a few. LaJoyce is the first African American woman to novelize a major motion picture with the smash hit movie "Soul Food". Today, she is a Naturopathic Doctor, College Professor at NYU and The City University of New York, New York Times Bestselling Author (with nine concurrent Bestsellers), and Co-Creator of Women Behind The Mic™. 

Pamela Crockett

Pamela Crockett is an entertainment and sports executive in the Baltimore/Washington DC corridor. 
Prior to this new venture, she served 20 years as an entertainment and sports attorney where she represented Taj from SWV, Kima from Total, NFL superstar Eddie George, and New York Times Bestselling Author Zane to name a few. 
Today she aims to elevate women to the highest level in sports and promote gender equity across disciplines.
Pamela earned her Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law / University of Michigan Law School (where she was honored by General Motors and the Michigan State Bar for outstanding community service. 
She received her B.A. in Political Science, English and Italian from Hunter College where she was a member of the varsity track and field team. Pamela is also nationally recognized in the youth sports world where she has coached, mentored and guided young boys and girls in track and field to national champions, college scholarships and professional sports for the past 16 years. Her organization Full Speed Athletics, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)(3) serving underserved communities. 

Thomasina Perkins

Thomasina Perkins is Chief Executive Officer and Principal Publicist of Capitol Public Relations, Capitol Public Relations provides PR services to professional athletes in the NFL, NBA, MLS, as well as high profile artists, entertainers, designers, authors, television and radio networks, political figures, entrepreneurs and heads of corporations. Thomasina entered the world of film and TV appearing on her client’s Reality Show, “Braxton Family Values”, she also appeared in network news segments and blended her talents into other opportunities where she mastered several roles including casting, location manager, strategic project planning and execution. Listed on both ARRAY NOW and IMDb as a Unit Publicist and Locations Manager, Thomasina is the 1st African American woman locations manager to be listed with the DC Film Office. She currently Serves as the DC Metro Area Network Director of National Association of Black Female Executives in Music & Entertainment.

     
Audra Washington Madison

Audra was the Writer Relations Representative of Membership on the East Coast in ASCAP’s Membership Department. ASCAP is the American Society of Composers, Authors, & Publishers.  Her responsibilities included recruiting songwriters, producers, and artists to ASCAP to protect their performance royalties.  
Some current superstars signed to ASCAP under Washington’s tutelage include Sean “P-Diddy” Combs, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keyes, Missy Elliott and Timberland, Outkast, TLC, and the late Notorious B.I.G. 

Audra was the Creative Director of EMI-Jobete Music Publishing overseeing the artistic use of the entire Jobete Catalog, which is the music publishing entity of Motown Records where she conceptualized the 32nd SuperBowl Half-Time show celebrating Motown's 40th Anniversary. With a stellar career spanning two decades, Audra's expertise traverses diverse realms. From music and financial services to the exhilarating world of horse racing as a true trailblazer at the Maryland Jockey Club.

Upcoming events