02/26/2026
Music Makes Medicine: Hip Hop as Science Communication
This session explored how hip hop has evolved into a powerful force for public health education, proving that culture, rhythm, and storytelling can save lives.
Moderated by Denyce Graves-Montgomery, Founder & Artistic Director of The Denyce Graves Foundation, Artistic Advisor, The Chautauqua Institute, and internationally acclaimed opera singer, the conversation brought together pioneers at the intersection of music and medicine:
🔹 Olajide Williams, MD, MS, Founder & President of Hip Hop Public Health; CoS & Professor, Neurology, Columbia University; Author
🔹 Doug E. Fresh, The Original Human Beatbox; Founding Artist & Honorary Board Member, Hip Hop Public Health
Together, they demonstrated how trusted voices and cultural relevance can break down barriers, combat misinformation, and translate complex science into messages that resonate across generations.
“Music occupies twice as much real estate in our brains than language itself. Music is not just music. It's a neuro biological amplifier. That is why it has such profound effects on so many aspects of human life, on emotions, on retention, on learning.” - Olajide Williams, MD, MS
“The point of the story is music making people feel good, right? Changing energy. We have that ability to do it. We have the ability to change energy. We don't believe it, but we can. So doing it with my mother, doing it with doc, seeing the kids — yeah, we're all natural healers if we want to be.” - Doug E. Fresh
