Instagram story viewer> @agapesphere> Tagged

Roberto Rivera

@agapesphere

755

followers

653

following

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Let’s talk healing. Can Hip Hop heal? When you consider the conditions in which Hip Hop arose from in 1973, you’ll see a community in crippling poverty, war torn communities and entire neighborhoods ravaged by fire, broken glass, violence, drugs, apathy, ignored by the authorities and no assistance forthcoming. And, literally rising like a phoenix from the ashes arose the spirit of Hip Hop and injected itself into the hearts and minds of the youth in this region. A new art form, a restructured #kulture emerged, transforming and saving countless human beings all throughout the globe with new tools, skills and an entrepreneurial motivation which took countless individuals out of poverty and a 53 year (as of 2026) trajectory which has grown into a global, multibillion dollar industry. Hip Hop continues to save and I don’t have enough space or time to go into the mechanics of healing but here’s a book written by a conglomerate of #hiphop practitioners who know the healing power of Hip Hop first hand. With a chapter written by #elpaso native @farbeon it highlights the advantages Hip Hop has in uplifting, motivating, teaching and directing people to use their inborn abilities to rise above whatever circumstances may surround their lives to become stronger, wiser, braver and even more powerful… and even more powerful… and even more powerful. Power to the God within.

89

5

A year ago I jumped into the Hip Hop As Healing Open Mic Cypher at the SA Hip Hop Museum and left a piece of my story on that stage.

Every opportunity counts.
Every verse counts.
Every step counts.

This is the journey.
This is the grind.
This is the Road to Back to the City 2026.

Full performance now live on YouTube. Link in bio. 🚀

https://youtu.be/fNghfx2jYHs?si=0JF-yuDMRqWv4mHj

#RichieTheRapper #RoadToBTTC2026 #BackToTheCity #HipHopAsHealing #SAHipHopMuseum A1EP GhettoEntertainmentEmpire SouthAfricanHipHop JohannesburgHipHop HipHopCulture

6

2

Y'all heard what they said, see you tonight for Day 1 🥳🎉
⬇️⬇️⬇️

Battle @ Da Badgers 3 : Spring Showcase
May 15-16th 2026 | 📍Art Lit Lab Madison,WI.

LINK IN BIO FOR ADMISSION & MORE DETAILS 🔗 🖇️

Day 1 May 15th 2026
Doors Open at 5pm | Dance Workshops 5-9pm
First Workshop @ 5:30pm w/ @papa_kobina_
Second Workshop @ 6:45pm w/ @artist.rlo21
Last Workshop @ 8pm w/ @70tu5

One Workshop : $20
All Three Workshops : $45

Main event day May 16th 2026
Doors Open at 2pm | Dance Battle Prelims at 3pm
Performances & Top 16 at 5:30pm

General Admission : $15
Dance Battle Entry : $10
Winner takes $300 cash

👨🏿‍⚖️ : @thaparty_ @artist.rlo21 & @mamamoves
🎤 : @papa_kobina_ & @lacouir_yancey
🎧 : @vilasparksniper
Battle Guests : TBA

#TheHitterzCollective #madisonwi #festival #dance #community

49

8

Nuclear HipHop Moment! 💣💥 @genesisdenisehale World 🌎 Premier 😎 Moment! 5Years Old with Legendary @gqthateacha Live at @_thefirehouse_ led by @agapesphere and @awtpoetrychicago co-piloting the energy. #ComeOnGOD. All the Beautiful things that Came from this one moment. #5yearold #Rap #HipHop #girlrapper

34

14

I call this time of my life S.O.S the “Stress Of Success”. Life is beautiful and exciting but time is playing in Fast Forward and I feel the stress and unsettled spirit of my soul: Four states, five cities, two countries, and living out of a suitcase. I miss my family—my wife, boys, and our golden doodle. At the same time, I have found so much joy and support from my communities, and seeing old friends, making new ones, and working & traveling being inspired by the work of the people. It maybe a “S.O.S” season, and I look forward to slowing down, reuniting with my fam, and being still, but I’m also filled with tremendous gratitude and wonder Next stop, London 🇬🇧! Prayers welcomed 🙏🏽! #life #family #friends #travel #work (Love you so much ❤️ NCM AM4 and NCM)

39

2

Listennnnnnn! @agapesphere I pray this adds some Propane to Your Fire 🙏 🔥🔥🔥 🙏 @cca_gardens #teach #hiphop #Trauma #violence #chicago

24

1

@lacouir_yancey aka b-boy spirit has entered the chat 🥳🎤
The one that will rock the microphone and keep the spirits high

Battle @ Da Badgers 3 : Spring Showcase
May 15-16th 2026 | 📍Art Lit Lab Madison,WI.

LINK IN BIO FOR ADMISSION & MORE DETAILS 🔗 🖇️

Main event day May 16th 2026
Doors Open at 2pm | Dance Battle Prelims at 3pm
Performances & Top 16 at 5:30pm

General Admission : $15
Dance Battle Entry : $10
Winner takes $300 cash

👨🏿‍⚖️ : @thaparty_ @artist.rlo21 & @mamamoves
🎤 : @papa_kobina_ & @lacouir_yancey
🎧 : @vilasparksniper
Battle Guests : TBA

#TheHitterzCollective #madisonwi #festival #dance #community

32

19

This moment—this trip—has sustained me for the past month. Much love to my #HipHopAsHealing fam doing the work in these tumultuous times. 🙏🏽🙌🏽 Tomorrow we meet to discuss the next phase and beyond! Cannot wait! #ThrowbackThursday #BKtoCPT #MyFavoriteArtistsAreMyFriends #CarryAPassport #ShareTheLove #GlobalLinguisticFlows #CommunityARTivist

3

4

Hip Hop has always been more than music. It’s medicine for the mind and movement for the soul. Grateful to be diving into “Hip Hop as Healing” edited by Roberto Rivera Ph.D & Emile YX?

This book is a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. #HipHopAsHealing #CultureAndCommunity

77

8

#ThrowbackThursday two a couple of weeks ago in #SouthAfrica and the official launch of our book #HipHopAsHealing! We had a few book release events in Cape Town and Johannesburg, including a doooope book talk and cypher as part of this year’s @backtothecityfestival! Though I’ve successfully managed to rock my Hip Hop ‘ish in both organic and academic spaces for 25+ years, I’ve always shied away from diving too deep in the academic arena for many reasons. Perhaps shrink away is a better way to put it.😭 A voice in the back of my head always whispering, “C’mon man…you don’t have anything of value to add to the convo. Just stay in your lane and keep it moving.” Well…I can now add published author to my list of #HipHop accomplishments and not only does it feel amazing, but it’s got me thinking maybe there’s more for me to share in this format. Big ups to @emile.yx and @agapesphere for inviting me on this journey and of course for your invaluable feedback on my three chapters. Big ups to the rest of the #HipHopAsHealing team who all contributed to the book…I’m learning so much from working through your chapters…the vulnerability, the lessons…simply amazing! We did a limited run of books for this tour, and I’m down to my last few. Hit me up backchannel if you’d like to pick up a copy. We ship world-wide! Though you have to pay for the shipping of course. Ha! #OrganicIntellectual #BKtoZA #RockTheCipher #RepTheCode #WalkYourPath #CarryAPassport #ShineTheLight #ShareTheLove

3

12

To learn more than you could ever hope to teach is the truest of blessings! This year’s #HipHopAsHealing Festival and book tour was about more than just the scheduled performances, workshops and talks…it was and will always be about the exchange of energy, ideas and culture! I was once told a cipher is wherever two or more people gather with a common purpose and I can say without a doubt that the ciphers that I was blessed to rock during this trip have left me with a renewed sense of purpose and much needed inspiration in these troubling times. Thank you #HipHop…thank you #SouthAfrica! Hit up the link in my bio to check out my entire tour photo gallery! 📸🙏🏽

#BKtoZA #RockTheCipher #CarryAPassport #WalkYourPath #MyFavoriteARTivistsAreMyFam

3

0

Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be sharing photos and videos from the 2025 #HipHoAsHealing Festival and South African book tour. Today I kick things off with a reel from @healthehoodza’s culminating youth concert and music video release event from a couple of Saturdays ago. What a way to get the entire tour started y’all! The youth were phenomenal, exhibiting the true power of Hip Hop as a tool for healing and self-actualization! Big ups to the #HealTheHood teaching and admin crew for all your commitment to the youth of the #CapeFlats! Your impact is truly immeasurable, as well as a massive inspiration for those aiming to do this work world-wide! #MyFavoriteARTivistsAreMyFriends #BKtoCPT #RockTheCipher #RepTheCode #ShareTheLove

3

1