Ralph McDaniels joins Elena Romero in conversation to discuss “Style and Sounds: Phat Fashions, Video Music Box, and the Hip Hop Entrepreneur” at The Museum at FIT fashion symposium Fresh, Fly, and Fabulous: Fifty Years of Hip Hop Style held on February 24, 2023. IMAGES ARE NOT SHOWN DUE TO COPYRIGHT CONCERNS.

The symposium drew on the expert voices of hip hop style from journalists, designers, and stylists to curators, professors, and archivists who explored topics that center hip hop fashion as a force that has shaped American culture for five decades. Talks and panels focused on the role of jewelry, custom design, media, collecting, and designer brands in amplifying hip hop’s impact on fashion and society. This symposium was held in conjunction with the exhibition "Fresh, Fly, and Fabulous: Fifty Years of Hip Hop Style" (February 8–April 23, 2023).

Ralph McDaniels is the founder and curator of the Video Music Box, which airs on NYC-TV, (channel 25 or 22). McDaniels, also known as "Uncle Ralph," has directed and produced over 400 music videos, and co-produced the films "Juice" (1992) and "You’re Watching Video Music Box" (Showtime, 2021). McDaniels's microphone is held in the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Elena Romero is assistant chair and assistant professor of Marketing Communications at FIT and co-curator of "Fresh, Fly, and Fabulous: 50 Years of Hip Hop Style." Romero is the author of "Free Stylin': How Hip Hop Changed the Fashion Industry" (2012) and is a featured expert in the style documentaries "The Remix: Hip Hop x Fashion" (2019) and "Fresh Dressed" (2015).

Emil Wilbekin is a media professional who produces and creates digital, print, social media, and event-based content, appearing on VH1, MTV, CNN, and Today. He was the editor-in-chief of Vibe magazine and managing editor and editor-at-large at Essence magazine. Wilbekin founded Native Son, an advocacy and networking group for gay and queer Black men.

Stream the full symposium playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... DO NOT DOWNLOAD VIDEOS WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION

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