In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, Virginia Hip-Hop Foundation hosted a Culture Talk discussing the history, impact, and influence of Asian Americans in Hip-Hop. Thank you to our guests; Joseph Patel, NOAH-O, Intalek, Cymandye Russell, Mundane, and MG. Thank you to our sponsor and partners; the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, Dominion Energy, Asian American Society of Central Virginia, and Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce. Also special thanks to Mama Vicky’s Lumpia and Filipino Cuisine and Hip-Hop collector Chase Gozum.

Photos by D. Holloway Photography

EVERYDAY MONUMENTS by Mike Fletcher

Art didn't stay on the wall... it moved.

Shoutout to the students who showed up and created.

Shoutout to the parents who made space for it.

Shoutout to Virginia Moca for letting us take over.

Gallery → sketch → real, wearable product.

Monuments don't have to sit still.

They can live on your feet.

This is bigger than sneakers.

This is process, confidence, and ownership-real time.

We're just getting started.

🎥 Tristan Langhorne

Chauncey Jenkins had a great time hosting a whiskey tasting for fellow Cornellians for Cornell Black Alumni Association’s 50th Anniversary weekend. Big salute to Antonia Singleton for reaching out! We explored the history of different styles of whiskey and focused on some emerging black voices in the industry. We started the evening with Oaxacan Old Fashioneds featuring 3708 Spirits Reposado!!! Highlights of the tasting were Edmonds Honor Bourbon and Shinju Whisky - a black owned bourbon and black-owned Japanese whiskey. Toast to all who came out and congrats to CBAA on 50 years.

Leon Clarke fitness photo shoot in Richmond, Virginia with Ty Hilton

Opening weekend with Michael Fletcher at YMCA of Greater Richmond:

Students took a blank pair of sneakers and turned them into personal statements — telling stories about identity, culture, pressure, and the choices that shape their lives.

Design became the language. Creativity became the outlet.

This is what happens when young people are given space to imagine, create, and build something that represents them.

More labs. More cities. More stories to tell.

Great conversation discussing the experiences, influences, and impact of women in hip-hop. Thank you to our guests; The Lady of Rage, Mikki Spencer, Justice R., Farrah Fawx, June Jones and Dr. Kay Coghill. Thank you to our sponsors and partners; the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, Mostly Sugar Media, and Dominion Energy.

[Via @OurOwn Instagram]

With NBA All-Star Weekend taking over the city, we stayed intentional about creating space for the youth.

In partnership with Mike Fletcher and @odysee.ed, we brought Mood Lab to students in Inglewood for a hands-on workshop focused on color theory, design, and creative expression. Each student tapped into their creativity to design their own one-of-one custom Converse Chuck Taylors, fully immersing themselves in the process and bringing their ideas to life.

Moments like this matters because creativity gives young people a safe, empowering outlet to express emotions, build confidence, discover their voice, and see tangible pathways into future opportunities.

@porterhousela

Congratulations to Michael Fletcher who partnered with the Los Angeles Rams to design content for the team’s ‘Setting the Standard’ Campaign to celebrate Black History Month.

Read more info here: https://www.therams.com/news/2026-black-history-month-page-meet-the-artist-michael-fletcher

Represented Chauncey Jenkins at a tasting event to celebrate Beyoncé’s Sir Davis Whiskey coming to Virginia.

Cameron George, Global Head of Advocacy and Whisky Blender for Sir Davis, gave us very dope and informative insights about the the brand and how it came to life.

Good meeting my guy JD Reid as well!

The Virginia Hip-Hop Foundation was honored to help facilitate opportunities for students to attend the Pep Rally and Opening Preview celebration for the “GIANTS” exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts that features pieces from The Dean Collection of Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz

Mike Fletcher has two pieces featured in ‘Where We Meet’ at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art. The exhibit celebrates the creative voices of the region and marks the final show in Virginia MOCA’s current building before the museum transitions to a new facility in early 2026.

Hip-Hop History Month at VSU was the first official event for the Virginia Hip-Hop Foundation and we look forward to bringing members of the Virginia Hip-Hop community together for more events in 2026 and beyond.

Chauncey Jenkins had a great time with the Troutman Pepper team talking about the rebellions whiskey has fueled and its global influence on law and culture. We dove into a ton of history and tasted through the Glenfiddich Aston Martin 16yr, Angel’s Envy Port Barrel, Teeling Small Batch, Crown Royal XO, and Hibiki Harmony. We talked some do’s and don’ts - including how the nasal cycle can affect how your nostrils work throughout the day and why you don’t want to swirl whiskey too aggressively before you nose it. We also talked some general rules, myths, and lore. If something like this interests you or you know someone it might, feel free to reach out because I love doing it!

Photos from Leon Clarke walking in Threaded Men’s Fashion Week in Richmond, VA

Our founder, Vaughan Moss, served as a panelist at the first ever HBCU Symposium held at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia. The event was organized by the school’s African-American and Latino Alumni Association. Over 300 students from across the Philadelphia metro area attended.

Mike Fletcher brought sneaker customization to the Nike Yardrunners activation to commemorate the Norfolk State University Colorway of the Nike Air Max 95. Shoutout to Snipes and the team at League Twenty Two.

Quick trip to Detroit to support our guy Mike Fletcher. He was presented with this year’s Educator Award at The Black Footwear Forum. Shoutout to Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, PLC Detroit, and the whole BFF team for the hospitality and putting together such a dope event for the culture.

Congrats to Leon Clarke who walked in his first New York Fashion Week show last month. Leon was a part of the Fashion Bomb Daily's 'The Bomb Fashion Show'

FROM FOXXTECCA’S INSTAGRAM:

Foxxtecca's Torque & Tread Sneaker Lab presented by Odysee in partnership with Footlocker at Cars, Kicks & Culture 2025.

This wasn't just an art project, it was inspiration and action in motion. Detroit students got hands-on experience remixing the iconic Nike Air Force 1s using DipYourCar paint, the same technology automotive enthusiasts use to transform the colors of their cars affordably and creatively. Each pair the students made became a reflection of mobility, creativity and identity.

The charms they added to the sneakers were inspired by items in the automotive world (gas cans, formula 1 steering wheels), and the Foxxtecca brand, symbolizing how automotive design and sneaker culture share the same DNA of creativity, expression, and engineering.

Huge shout out to Don Dudley and the Foot Locker LEED Program for helping make this possible, and to Mike Fletcher & for guiding the next generation of designers.

We at Foxxtecca are unapologetic about putting design and art in front of inner-city students, because creativity is technology, and STEAM Education is more than textbooks. When you give young people the tools, they don't just paint shoes, they redefine what's possible

Mike Fletcher participated in the Monster Drawing Rally a high-energy, live art-making event and fundraiser hosted by Generation MOCA, Virginia MOCA’s young leaders’ advisory council.