The REVOLT Summit isn’t your average networking conference. From the dope panels to the opportunities to network and, the event is one where attendees don’t just leave with notes on how to do X, Y, and Z from speakers. It’s a place where they can ask questions directly to hip hop royalty like Jeezy.
Many attendees leave with a more clear understanding on where they fit in the industry —whether that’s from a global marketing perspective or an underground musician’s. With another year in the books comes another group of hungry, passionate movers and shakers ready to take on what the biz has to offer.
“People are understanding the intersections of our culture,” REVOLT CEO Detavio Samuels said at the 2021 event last weekend when asked what he wanted people to take away from the Summit. “I think that’s one of the things that makes REVOLT so special. The fact that we are anchored in hip hop and hip hop touches every fabric of the culture. It touches music and fashion and tech, so it’s lovely to see people get that interaction. At the end of the day, we want people to leave here feeling inspired to chase their dreams instead of being focused on where they are today.”
Check out what five attendees had to say about what they learned from the 2021 REVOLT Summit below!
1. Megan Wolford, 34, Music Professional
“So the theme here was Dream in Black and what I think they’ve done an excellent job at is not necessarily focusing on music, but other spaces that Black people are thriving in that you don’t really see on the forefront. Like the first panel that I attended was Moguls In The Making and I learned so much from the participants in that pitch program which was sponsored by Ally Financial. It blew me away to see that the entire team was made up of Black people.
“We live in a time where people get caught up in being an influencer on social media whether it’s in music, modeling, dance or whatever, but it was cool to see other individuals that want to be successful outside of what’s cool right now, and that shit is cool as hell to witness people going against what’s popular. During the pitch competition, everyone’s work was focused on economic stability and Black communities, which I thought was amazing.
“I also felt moved and empowered after the Black Safety panel where one of the biggest things I realized was that people fail to recognize that socioeconomic structure is the main driver of things like poverty and crime.
“I think the Summit did a great job of intersecting different fields and different agencies that we don’t think about on a constant basis. Most of the people I’ve met here haven’t even worked in music, so it was great to build a network outside of what I’m used to.”
2. Tuff Dior, 25, Entrepreneur
“My biggest takeaway, as an entrepreneur, has been that you have to just put yourself out there. Come ready to sell yourself and show what you can do and make it be known what your brand stands for. One of the key things that I’ve learned from everyone that have shared words of wisdom on the panels is that you have to just go for it. Don’t waste your time, just be you and do what you do to the best of your ability.”
3. Anton Cofield, 50, Serial Entrepreneur
“The biggest takeaway for me is that the people on the panels put in a lot of work to get there. They had a lot of trials, tribulations. A lot of ups and downs and while I expected to meet neat, dope people, I also left educated on things that I simply did not know about.
“For instance, I learned a lot from the Assets and Liabilities group. I also learned more about fashion and the connection to the industry and mental health practices from the mouths of other Black men like myself. I didn’t even know that certain artists experienced the mental health issues that they shared. I also didn’t know that Gunna gave away school supplies or that he even attended the same high school as Ludacris. There are so many little intricacies about the business that I learned across the span of three days and I loved every second of it.”
4. Jordan Hendrix, 22, Rapper/Songwriter
“If you are presented an opportunity you should just go for it. REVOLT has shown me that they’re really trying to focus on the Black audience and Black creators and that we should actually take the time to really come together across all occupations. A lot of people are really scared to go for things and they feel like they don’t have the opportunity to do so. I learned that no matter what position you’re in — if you have the finances or if you have the ability go ahead and take that opportunity when it presents itself — [do it] because many more doors will open because of that.
“I really appreciate REVOLT for bringing an event together like this where people can collaborate and make better opportunities for themselves, and even get face time with people that are department heads or higher up in the industry. Overall, this has really given me the confidence to go out there and get to it and talk to more people because you never know where it can lead you.”
5. Jo’el Collins, 26, Go-Getter
“There are a lot of young Black talent and individuals who are really vibrating at a high level and ready to come together to collaborate. A lot of us don’t have jobs in the industry, but we have talents, we have businesses and a whole mindset to just make a way for ourselves. I’ve learned that if companies don’t necessarily have what we need, then we have to go out and create it from the ground up.”