“How do we bridge the gap between protesters and the artists? How do we bring this all into one consolidated effort?”

In the OneBeat Podcast’s second episode, we connect with 2019 OneBeat Fellow Justin Harrington (a.k.a Demeanor); a 23-year old banjo-playing rapper from Greensboro, North Carolina. The conversation follows his journey into the seemingly separate worlds of old-time music and hip hop, and he breaks down a range of diverse musical influences spanning from the African Akonting to Kendrick Lamar. The episode charts the course of Justin’s growth as an artist and organizer, diving into the impact that the Black Lives Matter Movement has had on Harrington’s life and work; inspiring him to launch a protest music festival in the summer of 2020, and subsequently, his own nonprofit organization, Haus of Lacks. 

Produced and Edited by Jeremy Thal & Nyokabi Kariuki

Mixed by Jeremy Thal & Zubin Hensler

Additional Story Editing by Charlotte Gartenberg 

Executive Producers: Jeremy Thal, Elena Moon Park, and Kyla-Rose Smith

Featuring: Justin Harrington and Savannah Leigh Thorne 

Music by Demeanor 

Additional music: 

“Sweatpants” by Childish Gambino

“Overcomer” by Royce Da 5’9 Ft. Westside Gunn

“The Blacker The Berry” by Kendrick Lamar

“Fast Lane” by Bad Meets Evil

Find a full playlist here.

OneBeat is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, & produced by Bang on a Can’s Found Sound Nation.