Groundwaves Hip-Hop Mentorship Program

Groundwaves Hip-Hop Mentorship Program

Status: Active, ongoing annual program

Geographic Scope: Northwest Arkansas (Springdale, AR), with sister programs in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Fort Collins, Colorado

What is it? A six-month hip-hop open mic and mentorship program that furthers the discovery, development, and celebration of Northwest Arkansas talent across hip-hop music and communities.

Program Components:

Open Mic Nights

• Held once per month on Tuesdays
• Venue: The Medium in Springdale
• Performer sign-ups: 5 PM day of show, in-person only
• Showcase begins: 6 PM
• Free and open to the public
• Each open mic night serves as a collaborative effort, with both audience and program mentor providing real-time feedback and support

One-on-One Mentorship

• Mentorship sessions held the day following open mic
• Mentors discuss with performers:
- Artistic development - The business of music - How to grow their scene
• Performers can sign up for multiple sessions

Program Mentor: Murs (West Coast rapper, Nicholas Carter), an accomplished musician and Guinness World Record holder

Past Performance:

Season 1 (2021): Provided 48 hours of one-to-one mentorship time to 36 different rappers, MCs, and music producers, many first-time performers. Five performers earned opening spots for Murs at Railyard Live stage in Rogers.

Season 2 (2022): Ran May 10 – October 12, 2022, with expanded reach to Oklahoma

Season 3 (2023): Expanded to include Tulsa, Oklahoma and Fort Collins, Colorado programs. Extended programming beyond open mics, including museum tours and festival performances.

Funding: Supported by Tyson Family Foundation and Walton Family Foundation

Contact/More Info: www.cachecreate.org/music-performance