Toni Blackman

Toni Blackman is a poet, rap lyricist and actress.  She was the first Hip-Hop artist selected to work as a Cultural Ambassador traveling with the US Department of State. Toni has traveled throughout Africa, Europe, and Southeast Asia, often working in some of the world\'s most war-torn nation states to help bring reconciliation and rehabilitation to those regions. She runs “Lyrical Embassy,” the umbrella organization for “Freestyle Union” and “I Rhyme Like A Girl” (RLAG). A former Echoing Green Fellow and Soros Fellow, her work promotes diplomacy and self-expression through the use of cutting-edge personal development techniques. An award-winning artist, Blackman has shared the stage with Erykah Badu, Mos Def, the Roots, Wyclef, Wu Tang, and others. Toni has appeared on albums for Universal Records France, BMG/Novus, RadioNova, Big Dada, and Timeout Magazine. Her first book “Inner-Course” (Villard/Random House) was released in late 2003. Her writing also appeared in the 2008 Anthology “Live Through This.”www.toniblackman.com