Rhymefest Drops “Creator” as a Prelude to ‘James & Nikki: A Conversation’ Project

Two-time Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist Rhymefest has unveiled “Creator,” a preview of his upcoming project, James & Nikki: A Conversation, slated for release on Feb. 9 in honor of Black History Month. Rhymefest, associated with Golden State Entertainment (GSE), the entertainment vertical under the Golden State Warriors, joined the team in 2022 on a multi-project deal.

“James & Nikki: A Conversation, uses fertile soil of our past to seed current conversations for our future,” said Rhymefest.

“Creator” marks Rhymefest’s first release with GSE and sets the stage for James & Nikki: A Conversation. The project draws inspiration from the historic 1971 discussion between literary icons James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni. Featuring clips from the original conversation, the initiative will showcase six women hip-hop artists engaging in dialogues with Rhymefest.

As an accomplished songwriter, Rhymefest earned a Grammy for co-writing “Jesus Walks” in 2005 and received nominations for “New Slaves” in 2013. He co-wrote the Oscar-winning song “Glory” and has been recognized for multiple hit singles, including “Brand New” in 2006. Rhymefest, who made his film debut in The Public and featured prominently in the Kanye West documentary Jeen-Yuhs, recently completed a Pritzker fellowship at the University of Chicago: Institute of Politics.

“Golden State Entertainment is committed to fostering collaborations with a diverse and passionate roster of artists, championing their culturally significant work,” said Golden State Entertainment Chief Business Officer, David Kelly. “Rhymefest is a great example of that vision: he’s a distinguished lyricist, activist, and teacher who has creatively reimagined an important moment in Black history for a modern audience.”

Rhymefest will perform at Thrive City’s Black History Month celebration on Feb. 19 and be honored as the Impact Warrior during the Golden State Warriors’ game against the Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 23, recognizing his community contributions.