Smith and Hamilton-Wray are Black Michigan State University affiliated artists that have both recently produced music.

Smith released a new album in December titled "But I Do," which acts as a sequel to his previous album "They Don’t Love You Like That," where he expressed his love for the important people in his life. The phrase "they don’t love you like that, but I do" is an expression of love and reassurance for his listeners as well.  

Hamilton-Wray spoke about her return to music and her creative musical process after a long hiatus. She focuses on the joy of music and going with the flow and with what moves her. 

Moore is the founder and the executive director of All of The Above Hip Hop Academy located in Lansing. This academy acts as a communities of hip hop and acknowledges the legacy of the community that came before. They grow their hip hop off the foundation that was built by artists who came before them.

The central idea of the JMC discussion was to talk about the impact and importance of music, specifically hip hop to African American activism. The concept of music as an art and its role in Black freedom struggles was discussed as well.

"I will say that I don't want to take full credit for it because (Smith) had the main idea, but I had the idea to have this discussion," Harrison said. "I came to it because I teach civil rights, I teach social movements, and art and music are critical components to community building for social movements."

The first hour of the discussion worked in a Q & A style as Harrison asked the discussion panel questions surrounding the role of music in advocacy, the intersection of art with activism, the community aspect of hip hop within the tradition of politics and the panelists’ work in East Lansing. The second hour of the discussion was the panel interacting with the audience and answering questions that they had. 

Answers of the discussion panel placed emphasis on the community of hip hop, and the essentiality of community in order for hip hop to thrive. If there is a lack of community, it's important to build one, they said. The panelists also explained that hip hop is rooted in activism, and by participating in hip hop they are simultaneously activists. 

"Fill the void," Moore said. "That’s part of activism. If there’s something missing equitably and you can do something about it, (advocate)."

Hamilton-Wray explained the power of music in advocacy as vibrations that impact the entirety of people listening, and Moore said music has the capability of putting people at ease and breaking down barriers. Music's power to be a universal language also plays a role, Smith said.  

"I think my biggest takeaway that I had from the discussion here is that so much of what we do is rooted in community, so much of activism is community, so much of hip hop is community," social relations and policy senior Conner Holguin said. "You can't take one without the other, so you can't have hip hop without the power of community."