Explore our Arts Academy
Enroll in Winter Classes
Our Fall classes for ages 8 to 18 are open for registration and are available as in-person classes in Washington, DC.
Innovative Hip-hop C
urriculum
Join our creative arts classes to propel your career as a DJ, fashion designer, music producer, radio broadcaster, artist, or poet.
Academy Spotlights
Folasadé Ogunmokun
Teaches: Like a Boss
Folasadé is a creative entrepreneur, cultural strategist, and the founder of Unskrypted TV. Her mission is to empower students to not only think like entrepreneurs but to build with confidence, community and authenticity.
Flex Mathews
Teaches: Rap/MC
Flex has spent most of his life being an rap artist/MC and started working at WBL in 2010 as an MC instructor.
Uncover Our Wide Range of Community Programs
Check out what we accomplished in 2025 with this rap-up video from Trus real.
WBL MEDIA
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The Counterbalance Blog
A Case for a Hip-Hop Hall of Fame
Going on 50 years and with hip-hop's Americana status secured, it is long overdue for it to have its own shrine to celebrate its legends and innovators.
Interview: South Africa’s DJ LAG Reaches New Heights In The U.S.
The King of gqom music, a sub-genre of the South African electronic dance scene, stopped through World Massive on KPFK radio Los Angeles to talk to host and Words Beats & Life staff member, d.painter, before heading to EDC Vegas, The largest EDM festival in the Americas.
A conversation with CEO and Publicist Mercy Chikowore
Mercy Chikowore is a CEO, journalist and publicist who is invested in storytelling for various clients. Born in Tokyo with roots in Zimbabwe, Chikowore grew up in New York before moving to Geneva, Switzerland. Through these various life transitions, Chikowore became enthralled by getting to know people and their stories at a young age.
