Words Beats & Life 2025 Recap: Hip-Hop, Education and Creative Employment
As we move into a new year, Trus R.e.a.l offers a spoken-word recap of Words Beats & Life’s 2025 fiscal year — reflecting on the people, programs and cultural moments that continue to shape our work.
Twenty-three years in the making, one movement in motion. This rap traces the evolution of Words Beats & Life — from neighborhood blocks in Washington, D.C., to global stages — and reflects how hip-hop culture, arts education and creative employment intersect across generations.
Through festivals, youth programs, media platforms and international exchanges, WBL continues to build pathways for artists, students and cultural workers to learn, create and lead. The rap below serves as our 2025 annual report, capturing that journey in rhythm and reflection.
Lyrics (text version)
Below are the exact lyrics as performed in the video, shared for accessibility and for anyone who wants to read along.
-
Words Beats & Life got a mission to come move with,
Four generations of work,
And one movement.From kids, adults and the elders of all kinds.
We're teaching,
We're reaching,
And building across time.From D.C. blocks,
To cities that only some see.
For 23 years,
in 21 countries.Like hosting Juste Debout
Where the rockin' was locked in.
A dance comp with hip-hop styles,
Poppin' and Lockin'.With judges from around the world
who danced for their titles.
Winners got flown to Paris, France
for the finals.It had the illest vibe,
Had an article written by
EQ Magazine
You can find this on Issue 5One of our former teachers,
students learned to spin with,
DJ Fleg Spun for the breakin’ at the OlympicsFrom D.C. to every corner of the globe,
Tryna find the right angle
for the culture to explode.Settin’ up the stage,
With roots of our flavor,
So many can engage
in the fruits of our labor.Like the Words Beats & Life Fest 2025
Let it grow,
Watering the seeds til,
Something come alive.It rained at Jazz & Blossom,
And people still come to vibe,
Cuz Arrested Development made it feel like the sun was,
Shinin’And the cause brought others,
Masta Ace made it feel like a long hot summer
With the rooftop vibes,
Peeps see it go well,
DJ Spinna get it right, up at Eaton Hotel.DMV Made Festival
Something locals were rockin' with,
at the National Mall across the Washington Monument.Expanding DMV and what's considered in its reach,
With artists from Baltimore,
Or who live in Virginia Beach.Barbers couldn't see this lineup,
So let's get it,
With E.U., KAMAUU and yes,
The Messthetics.Our students filmed a documentary,
That we can replay.
So they would create,
“The Road to DMV Made.”Youth and older artists that put in the work that we pay.
MCs, producers, dancers, poets or DJs.With hard times,
Hard work,
Shows what the mission is,
We’re more than a moment on stage,
Or just a single gig.Employing more creatives is what we seek to see,
As we're connecting schools all across the DMV.Young creatives will be taken through the path soon.
So we shape them up for the stages,
From the classroom.Like sending poets,
That has to get it poppin',
Out to Brave New Voices
in Madison, Wisconsin.With our monthly Slamtastic,
More peeps can see,
The youth at Busboys And Poets,
At 14th and VThe DMV Made Doc was succeeding with,
Teaching kids bout production,
media and leadership.The media’s the message
as the voice of the movement.
This ecosystem amplifies the voices and boosts it.To teach,
to document
and digitally monetize.Like #SaysFlex
who talks culture and life to lots of minds.Wednesday Wisdom with Mazi
has gone off with,
The history gems and the lessons on nonprofits.On 89.3 they runnin’ the waves,
If we willin’ to listen, they got Something to SayAnd one of those things is,
Thank you.And we wanna show love,
And big gratitude,
To everyone who came through.
