Pollstar (02/22/24) Walker, Geoff

Pollstar contributor Geoff Walker writes about the three events at what some would consider atypical venues that he recently produced or co-produced commemorating hip-hop culture's journey dating back to 1973 in the South Bronx. The three venues were New York City’s Lincoln Center, Paris’ Théatre du Châtelet, and L.A.’s Beverly Hilton — a testament to hip-hop's reach and endurance in the five decades since. "Hip-hop, indeed, is ubiquitous, everywhere, all the time, all at once," he writes pointing to almost any current pop song — whether from Beyoncé or Ed Sheeran or Taylor Swift -- and how they all incorporate rap, rhyme, and/or some form of lyrical flow into their hits. And the recent Super Bowl LVIII halftime show featuring Usher incorporated hip-hop into a performance with iconic rappers Ludacris and Lil Jon making cameos. Walker is the founder of Kickstand World LLC and an A&R consultant for the Warner Music Group.

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