REVOLT WORLD really transformed Atlanta, Georgia on Sept. 22-24 and brought the city a cultural experience that was needed with the daily musical performances, thought-provoking conversations, networking opportunities, and more. It even made history with over 30,000 participants attending!
Before the weekend came to an end, REVOLT spoke with a few attendees to learn more about their experiences and find out their favorite moments of the event. Check out what they had to say below!
1. Alyssa Simone, Influencer and Journalist
The executive chats were a great way for attendees to learn from C-Suite and leadership executives about how to get into different fields outside of entertainment. One of those chats were with Rob Duhart, the VP & Deputy CISO at Walmart.
“I just want to say thank you to Mr. Duhart for the conversation and talking about money in general. Because it is usually said that money is the root of all evil. So it is really nice for us to rewrite that narrative and speak about money openly, so that we can be more comfortable accepting money into our lives and, therefore, believe in how we can contribute to more institutions,” said Simone.
She added, “As an influencer and wanting to work with Walmart, I am looking forward to connecting with the Walmart Brand team at the Career Fair and learning more about how I can work with Walmart in the future.”
2. Kevin Sir a.k.a SirKevinYouJeans, Black Artist and Designer
On the first day of REVOLT WORLD, attendees were able to hit the ground running and check out everything the event had to offer. For designer, Kevin Sir, he was happy to be a part of something this huge in Atlanta and drew inspiration from all the activities.
“I am here at REVOLT WORLD to just network, meet people, and expand my brand. So far my favorite activation has been the Love Lounge. I had a whole outfit created around the Love album concept. So when I got in there, it was definitely a vibe. My top three [songs] were with Justin Bieber, Teyana Taylor’s feature on “Closer To God,” and “Brought My Love” with The-Dream.”
3. James R. Sanders, Author of Reparations: Style + Soul
“REVOLT WORLD is important for OUR community — the Black community — because it helps change the narrative that suggests we are incapable of sticking together. REVOLT is doing the work, God’s work, in providing knowledge of self through amplifying our voices and giving us our own platform through justice by any means necessary.”
He continued, “My favorite part of the festival was being surrounded by such brilliance. I never want to be the smartest person in the room. Being surrounded by so many mavericks was both a privilege and blessing. That, and, of course the style. We are the trailblazers of style — without us, there would be no fashion.”
4. Calina Kimbrough, HR Firm Consultant
A Chicago native who moved to Atlanta a few years ago, it was nice for this attendee to witness people come together as well as meet others who were also from other areas.
“I came here with the intention of networking and getting better feedback or perspective on how to be a better entrepreneur. I have really been enjoying the hip hop experience and the way they brought culture to real-life experiences is awesome. I have been learning a lot. “Assets over Liabilities” with Lauren London, I was able to see a different side of her and that makes people more human. I learned how she is no longer the girl from ATL. She is still my idol, for various reasons, and it was inspiring to see her become her own person, an entrepreneur, a mom, and solidified that if she can do it for herself, I can too,” Kimbrough said.
5. Amari, Creative Artist
“First off, I was so glad I was able to see ‘Caresha Please.’ I just love her! Ari and her were able to clear some things up and I am here for it! They even gave the chance for some of us to ask questions, which I thought was really cool. One thing I did learn from the conversation was why Ari forgave Moneybagg Yo for cheating. Nobody is perfect and I know we get hard on ourselves for going back with someone that hurt us. But Ari talked about forgiveness and I think that’s what we need more of. We live in a cancel culture and don’t give people the chance to learn from mistakes and grow. So, that is something I know I need to be better at doing… I wouldn’t say for cheating, but I can try to be more forgiving sometimes instead of cutting people off so quickly.”
6. ArJon Heard aka KP, Artist Manager/Special Events Coordinator
The Gaming Center was a great addition to the weekend. Video games and streaming are not just for “nerds,” but for everyone. It’s also another avenue that people have access to for business purposes as well as for an escape.
“What I learned from The Gaming and Hip Hop panel more than anything was always put yourself in a position to be able to learn. Don’t be afraid to be different. Everybody on the panel spoke about a lot of things that I think the youth should listen to. Especially for those who are into music, but also into gaming. Knowing that you don’t need to be complacent and there is no issue to stand out. To keep building and be persistent. One thing that Tee Grizzley said that stuck with me was, ‘You should always repurpose your content. Don’t get too comfortable with what you know. Switch it up a little bit and keep building, keep building, keep building,” noted Heard.
He added, “I also want to mention that my favorite experience was the Love Lounge. The aesthetics itself were amazing. I know the color red stands for love, strength, and revolution. So to see the full lounge in red, I felt immersed in the music. Definitely gave a different feeling with taking in the music, as well. I felt it gave very VIP and exclusive vibes and I liked the whole interactive experience.”
7. Taylor Lively, Entrepreneur
“Listening to Jeezy talk about being a businessman and just focusing on being a leader for the next generation was amazing. I think it’s hard for artists like us to get our name out there and we feel like nobody is going to support us. But with Jeezy saying we can’t be scared to get out of our comfort zone to chase our dreams, I felt that. You can’t get stuck in this box and stop yourself from expanding your brand and try other things. You just have to stay dedicated and motivated. I want to be able to put my name on so many projects and really make an impact in my city too. So, it was inspiring hearing his story. He also said that success is about us, but the overall impact is about giving back to others. I agree with that wholeheartedly,” Lively expressed.
“I am going to read his book after this. I don’t read like that, but after this talk and he gave out his book to all of us for free, I’m definitely going to check it out. That’s dope as hell.”
8. Joi Coleman, Project Manager
“What I liked about the Black Girl Stuff panel is that the men were able to share their thoughts on topics like cheating and situationships. I liked that 19 Keys was talking about men needing to be a provider and both people need to show up in a relationship 100 percent. Dating is hard enough as it is out here and we are just tired of settling for anything. I think it is also reassuring to hear men talk more positively about relationships than what we see on social media. There are so many podcasts making Black women and men turn against each other and it is honestly exhausting. I learned a lot from everyone’s different perspectives and that despite what social media may be portraying, Black love is not dead,” Coleman said.
9. Marquis Yancey, Owner of Organo
REVOLT WORLD brought fans of the movement together. With three days of jam-packed activitations, it was hard to choose just one thing to love. For Yancey, he was grateful to be in the room with Black excellence, spread the word about his health and wellness business, and vibe out to amazing music with his brother Adrienne.
“REVOLT WORLD has honestly been amazing for me. I am definitely going to come back next year. From the artists, DJ performances, to the panels, everything has been lit. I really appreciate what y’all did for us this weekend!!”