Back to Reading Credits with Wes Jackson + Lachi

Episode Liner Notes

For the fifth episode of Back To Reading Credits, Wes Jackson spoke with artist and advocate Lachi about how she and her peers are fighting to make the music industry more accessible. Lachi is a globally touring recording artist, award winning social entrepreneur, GRAMMYs Chapter Board Governor, and host of PBS’ American Masters series ‘Renegades’. Born legally blind, Lachi uses her platform in music, storytelling and fashion to amplify identity pride and Disability Culture. Her U.N.-recognized organization RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities) has collaborated on disability-inclusive solutions with the GRAMMYs, Netflix, Tidal, SONY Pictures Entertainment and more. Her recent song “Lift Me Up” in homage to Judy Heumann (pron: Human) peaked at #29 on U.S. Adult Contemporary radio, with airplay on MTV.com and BETSoul. Named a USA Today Woman of the Year, a “new champion in advocacy” by Billboard, and “a foot soldier for Disability Pride” by Forbes, her cultural activism has landed her spots on national ads and TEDx stages, discussions with the White House, BBC, Good Morning America and the New York Times, and her bejeweled glam canes have popped up everywhere from New York Fashion Week to major LA movie premieres.

Thank you to Arthur Gwynne and Stacie Barker. Ro Johnson, Tadia Toussaint, and everyone who participated in “Dead Rappers Get Better Promotion: The Health Crisis in Hip-Hop, A #BHeard Town Hall” last year. Watch the full Town Hall here: Youtube

Show Liner Notes

Back To Reading Credits is a 6-episode audiovisual series from BRIC Radio celebrating the first 50 years of Hip-Hop and the people behind the curtain who drive the culture. On the show, BRIC President Wes Jackson interviews scholars, artists, executives, thought leaders, and other unsung heroes of the movement about how they shaped the look, feel, and flow of Hip-Hop, and about how Hip-Hop shapes us.