Vikki Tobak

VIKKI TOBAK is an author, journalist, and curator. She is the author of critically acclaimed books CONTACT HIGH: A VISUAL HISTORY OF HIP-HOP (Clarkson Potter/Random House), 2018); ICE COLD: A HIP-HOP JEWELRY HISTORY (Taschen 2022) and The Streets Win (Rizzoli 2023). Her work has appeared in Complex, Rolling Stone, The FADER, ESPN’s The Undefeated, Mass Appeal, Paper, Vibe, i-D, the Detroit News, The Library of Congress and more. Tobak is also the curator of the traveling Contact High exhibition at the Annenberg Space for Photography, The International Center of Photography, Manarat Al Saadiyat (MAS)in Abu Dhabi and MoPOP (Museum of Pop Culture). Tobak and the exhibition were nominated for a Lucie Foundation Award for Curator / Exhibition of the Year. She is a former producer and columnist for CBS, CNN and Bloomberg News. Vikki got her start as a culture editor for Paper magazine before going on to work at Payday Records/Empire Management working with groups including Gang Starr, Jay-Z, Mos Def, Show and AG, Jeru and other hip-hop legends of the Golden Era. She has lectured widely about music photography and contemporary culture at American University, The Schomburg Center, The Kennedy Center, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit.

April Walker

April Walker is an agile entrepreneur, author, health and wellness enthusiast, and a fashion designer who inspired a multi-billion dollar streetwear and lifestyle industry. Her brand, Walker Wear was one of the first streetwear fashion brands to dominate in menswear, garnering millions in sales and opening global distribution doors for streetwear, and key product placement implementation.

Walker Wear has been featured in countless publications, films, and videos. Her clients have included Tupac, and B.I.G., Queen Latifah, and Mike Tyson, to name a few. April has been featured in Fresh Dressed and The Remix: Hip Hop x Fashion, two films that highlight the marriage of fashion and hip-hop. As a creative, her collaborations extend from Brooklyn to Berlin. Her work is currently featured in the Street Dreams exhibit at the Kunsthal Rotterdam, in the Netherlands.

Today, April remains at the helm of Walker Wear. She serves on a local arts advisory board, and on a public service advisory council. April also serves as a virtual mentor for entrepreneurs and youth, implementing a customized curriculum to help them own their own magic.

As a wellness influencer, April has dropped a Walker Wear athleisure line, and penned her first five-star book, Walkergems, Get You’re A$% Off The Couch. She spreads her Walkergems by giving people the tools they need to design the lives they imagine while she is uplifting her community in the process!

United Photo Industries (UPI)

United Photo Industries (UPI) is a New York based nonprofit organization that works to promote a wider understanding of, and increased access to, the art of photography.

Since its founding in 2011, UPI has rapidly solidified its position in the public art landscape by continuing to showcase thought-provoking, challenging, and exceptional photography from across the globe. In its first seven years, UPI has presented the work of more than 2,500 visual artists in gallery exhibitions and public art installations worldwide.

Walker Wear

Walker Wear is a global fashion brand. As fashion architects and storytellers, the brand shares its rich history through the content and threads. Walker Wear is one of the first streetwear fashion-lifestyle brands to dominate menswear, garnering millions in sales, opening global distribution doors for streetwear, and key product placement implementation. The brand has been featured in countless publications, films, and videos. Clients have included Tupac, B.I.G., Queen Latifah, and Mike Tyson, to name a few. Encapsulating timeless silhouettes and serving premium quality with style, the mission is to inspire and uplift a global community on the canvas of fashion.