Black Artist Incubator
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Dear HiiiWAV Family,
It feels like we’ve packed a full year of activity into just the first half of 2024! HiiiWAV FEST June 8th was a vibe like no other, we launched and graduated five incredible artist-entrepreneur teams through the brand new AFRO AI MVP program, and we crowned a Startup-Innovator $10k Grant Winner: Choice Scores! We’ll continue to elevate with a Sci-Fi Sunday screening of “I’m a Virgo” on July 14th, with creator Boots Riley, which also coincides with my birthday. Grab tix below! Additionally, we are expanding access to HiiiWAV HQ, where you can host your next event, meeting, co-working session, or studio recording session. Pull up!
With so much happening this month, we’re splitting our newsletter into two parts. HiiiLIGHTS will continue to be…well, the highlights, while we’ll dive deeper into our programs, future plans, and inner workings in the new “HiiiWAV INSIDER.” Reply to be added to the Insider mailiing list.
Finally, please share any comments, reactions, suggestions or appreaciations we can use to make next year’s fest even better!!
Bosko Kante
Founder and President, HiiiWAV
Join Us For Bosko's Birthday At Sci-Fi Sunday w/ Boots Riley!
You are invited to HiiiWAV’s 2nd annual Sci-Fi Sunday with Boots Riley, where we’ll also be celebrating our founder Bosko’s birthday! Here are the deets:
Screening of “I’m a Virgo”: Watch key episodes of Boots Riley’s surreal comedy series featuring Emmy Award-winner Jharrel Jerome as Cootie, a 13-foot-tall teen in Oakland.
Round Table Discussion: Engage with the series’ creator Boots Riley about his creative process and the themes in his work!
Bosko Kante’s Birthday Celebration: Celebrate HiiiWAV’s founder with cupcakes and a live musical turn-up to close the night.
Free movie snacks included and craft cocktails will be available for purchase.
Space is limited, so grab your tickets now for an evening of sci-fi brilliance, insightful conversations, and community celebration!
A Heartfelt Thank You for Making
HiiiWAV FEST a Success!
We did it! When I say “we”, I mean all of YOU — the HiiiWAV team, the Grand Nationxl team, Solid Grounds, our incredible vendors, production staff, volunteers, and interns (see below) — and the wonderful community of Oakland. HiiiWAV Fest was everything it needed to be. Held on June 8th at our permanent home, 2781 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, this free event merged AI & VR technology with dynamic musical performances in celebration of Black creativity and innovation. Amazing things happen when we work together!
HUGE THANK YOU to our sponsors who came through when our city funding didn’t happen: Lorna Lee & Jim Keefe, Selena Wilson, Lynne Hoey, Zoo Labs, East Bay Community Foundation, Meta, Kapor Center, Tides Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, Community Bank of the Bay, Red Bull, Devland, & ElectroSpit.
Thanks to the City of Oakland for approving our permits. We love our city, and we’re still hopeful the grant from the City of Oakland will come eventually. In the meantime, please consider donating to HiiiWAV to help cover the missing funds!
Thank you to Northern California Grantmakers for the low interest Arts Loan Fund financing that helped us withstand the city funding delay!
Special shout out to our live performers, The Pharcyde, Just Blaze, SoLauren Adams, Dame Drummer, The Prospect Band, Honey Gold Jasmine & Bosko “ElectroSpit” Kante, DJ Darling Cool, and DCisChillin for delivering crowd moving performances. Additionally, the festival highlighted our AFRO AI: MVP startups, including Choice Scores, Worth.AI, GooRoo, and 1763 Co. — and featured the announcement of the $10,000 grant winner, Choice Scores!
Attendees also experienced cutting edge AR/VR tech demos by Meta, and two eye-opening workshops: a Serato Masterclass led by Nassirah Nelson and an AI music and art creation workshop led by Lance Coleman and assisted by Gemeny Givens of Hidden Genius. We’re so proud that HiiiWAV was able to create these experiences for our community that educate, uplift, and inspire joyful innovation.
Thank you for being part of this extraordinary journey. We are deeply grateful for your support and look forward to continuing to dream, create, and build permanence together.
HiiiWAV Team: Maya Kante, Miles Dotson, Noel Muluneh, Patricia Magcalas, Bosko Kante
Resident Operators: Grand Nationxl (Branding & Experience), Solid Grounds (Project Management)
Workshop Instructors: Nassirah Nelson, Lance Coleman, & Gemeny Givens.
Vendors: City Chopped, Hyphy Iyceez, Town Frites, La Santa Torta, The Shepard Collection Wine, Winky Dinky Dogs, Ayaba Wines, Black Vines, Futurisme Studios, Karl Marie Fragrance and Candles, Hella Charged & Lit, La Tooth Fairy, Fotos Mami Polaroid Popup, Melanin Gang Apparel, Hey Carter! Books, AfroComicCon, Moss is Lyfe Juice, Soul blends Coffee, Kayla Crochets, The Herbal Alchemist, Waistbeads by Ayodele
Production Staff: Oakland Venue Management, Statewide, Kevin McCann, Transpor, OJI, Timothy Wiley Security, KSJ Pix, Jahsahdi
Additional Support: KONO, Oakland Fire Department, Oakland Police Department, Aaronjit Athwal, Gemeny Givens, Hidden Genius
Volunteers: Anna Cadena, JuJu, C. A. Jean-Louis, Misty Rose Spencer, Kim Mcdonald, Sloane Gross, Zaire Defares, Tirzah love, Don McBirney, JayP2, Kanani Sumandal, Reshea Holman, Karease Williams, Wakumi Douglas, & Tye
Intern Support Team: Christian, Taylor, and YaYa
HiiiWAV HQ: The Perfect Venue for Your Next Gathering
Are you looking for the perfect space to host your next event, meeting, or co-working session? Look no further than HiiiWAV HQ! Our conveniently located venue at 2781 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, offers studios, offices, a conference room, an outdoor area, and a large central performance space. With gated parking and close proximity to BART, it’s an ideal spot for mission-aligned businesses and creatives.
Join our vibrant community and enjoy the benefits of being part of HiiiWAV. Our space is situated in the heart of Oakland’s dynamic KONO District, renowned for its art scene and bustling First Fridays. Reach out today to inquire about availability and make HiiiWAV HQ your next destination for innovation and collaboration.
With heartfelt thanks and unstoppable energy,
Bosko, Maya, Miles, Noel, and Pat
HiiiWAV Team
