On Saturday, October 18, 2025, the Delaware Art Museum will host the 3rd Annual Hip Hop Cultural Summit, a day-long celebration and critical conversation exploring Hip Hop’s impact on race and culture. This year’s Summit and theme coincide with the opening of Imprinted: Illustrating Race, a traveling exhibition organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum, and build on the powerful conversations from the past two Summits. The event promises to be even more impactful, with Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, co-founder of the legendary group Run DMC, confirmed as the headliner.
Doors open at 10:00 AM, with a full day of events to highlight the impact of Hip Hop on race, social justice, and civic engagement. Reflecting on the Summit’s legacy, Delaware Art Museum’s Cultural Programs Manager and Guerrilla Republik co-founder Iz Balleto states, “We must continue to re-educate the true purpose of Hip Hop Culture, the meaning behind it, and its impact on the community and the world. This summit will highlight how Hip Hop has impacted race and culture and its effect on the community.”
Presented by AllHipHop, Guerrilla Republik, and the Delaware Art Museum, this year’s Summit features a dynamic lineup of artists, thought leaders, performers, and community voices, bringing together the best of Hip Hop’s creative expression and its power to address urgent social issues. “We’re honored to host the Third Annual Hip-Hop Summit with none other than DMC of Run-DMC as our special guest. His presence connects Hip-Hop’s roots to its future, making this year’s gathering truly historic,” Dr. Grouchy Greg Watkins said.
IZ Balleto, Cultural Program Coordinator at the Delaware Art Museum, says: “We must continue to re-educate people on the true purpose of Hip Hop culture — the meaning behind it and its impact on both the community and the world. This summit will highlight how Hip Hop has influenced race and culture, and the lasting effect it has within our communities.”
This event promises to bring together art, performance, and conversation to challenge perspectives and inspire action, which supports the Museum’s broader goals of serving as a creative gathering place for the region, bolstering its commitment to inclusion, collaboration, and using art to foster civic dialogue and engagement. Attendees can expect powerful performances, immersive exhibits, and conversations that connect Hip Hop’s cultural roots to ongoing struggles for racial equity and cultural change.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
- · Host: RadioShach
- · DJ sets with SoulBuck and DJ CRUZ KHAOZ
- · Panel #1: Rosedale Beach with Tamara Burks & Dr. Grouchy Greg Watkins
- · Panel #2: Hip Hop & Race featuring Steve Lobel, Martha Diaz, Nataani Means, Michele Byrd-McPhee, and Rabb Love, moderated by Power 99’s Roxy Romeo
- · Keynote discussion between AllHipHop Co-Founder Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur and Run-DMC founder Darryl “DMC” McDaniels
- · Book signing with Run-DMC founder Darryl “DMC” McDaniels
- · MC Battles
- · All-Female Breakdancing Exhibition
- · Visual Art Exhibition: Local artists exploring Hip Hop’s impact on race and culture
- · Food Trucks & Vendors on Site
EVENT DETAILS
Location: Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington, DE Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025
Doors Open: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Admission:
- Members: Free
- Non-Members: $10
- Youth (ages 7–18): $6
- Children (6 and under): Free
- Price increases at the door. Advance registration is encouraged.
httpsw://allhiphop.com/summit
Note: Panelists, times, and programming are subject to change. Attendees are encouraged to check for updates and announcements.
For more information, media inquiries, or interviews, please contact:
Purpose PR Agency, LLC | Porsha L. Green | Porsha@purposepragency.com
Or Delaware Art Museum | Shannon Woodloe| Swoodloe@delart.org
