Fifty years after its birth in the Bronx, Hip Hop has become a global force—shaping fashion, language, politics, and identity across the African diaspora. But with that influence comes a hard question: has Hip Hop—and the musical cultures it has influenced—become a net negative for the Black community?

In this episode of Sankofa Sessions, hosts Kofi Annan and Kofi Adih are joined by Sudan, aka One True Poet—DJ, artist, and cultural curator—for a candid, intergenerational conversation about where Black music is headed and who’s really steering it.

Together, they examine how the commercialization of Hip Hop mirrors similar trends in Dancehall, Afrobeats, Amapiano, and other diasporic sounds—from algorithm-driven hits and corporate gatekeeping to shifting values around money, masculinity, gender, and power.

Is today’s music simply reflecting lived reality, or reinforcing harmful narratives?
Do DJs and artists have a responsibility beyond the crowd and the check?
And as Black music goes global, what parts of the culture are being elevated—and what parts are being erased?

This episode doesn’t offer easy answers. It offers necessary questions about art, accountability, ownership, and the future of Black culture across the diaspora.

Every conversation is a step toward collective liberation.

In this episode of Sankofa Sessions, we dive deep into the real impact of democracy on the Black community—both in America and across the African diaspora. Has democracy truly delivered on its promise of freedom, equality, and progress for our people? Or has it simply reshaped old hierarchies in new, more sophisticated ways?

We unpack the historical and contemporary effects of democratic systems on Black empowerment, from voting rights and representation to economic opportunity and self-determination. We also debate whether alternative models—socialism, communalism, or Pan-African governance—might offer better paths toward equity and liberation.

Finally, we confront the hardest question of all: Is the system the problem—or are we, through complacency, internalized oppression, and lack of collective strategy, keeping ourselves stuck?

Tune in for a raw, unfiltered conversation that challenges assumptions and calls us to action.

Every conversation is a step toward collective liberation.

Black entrepreneurship isn’t just business—it’s identity, culture, survival, and innovation rolled into one. In this episode, we unpack what truly sets Black business owners apart: the nontraditional pathways we take to get started, the way we braid our heritage into our brands, and the community expectations that shape how we move. We also get honest about the pitfalls on both sides—what Black entrepreneurs struggle with behind the scenes, and what Black consumers get wrong when supporting (or not supporting) our own.
This is a raw, grounded conversation about the realities, responsibilities, and resilience that define Black enterprise today.

Every conversation is a step toward collective liberation.