SAM SELLERS
Sam Sellers creates radically inclusive spaces through music at concerts, on dancefloors and in classrooms. With an expansive discography begun on wax in 2001, a performance career touching 5 continents, and over two decades in Education, there are countless places where you may have encountered him.
Highlights include head coaching on MTV's MADE, headlining the Blue Note Jazz Festival, facilitating workshops from community centers in Uganda to teaching at schools and universities in NYC and beyond. He is co-founder and CEO of independent record label Say Word Entertainment, and co-founder of 501(c)3 Hip Hop Re:Education Project.
Recently he was Artist-in-Residence at Cassis AIR (France), released his first self-produced project, entered his 8th year as professor at The New School (NYC) where he’s also Faculty Advisor to the New School Hip Hop Collective, headlined Breakthrough Dance Fest in Zurich,CH, and was minted 2019 End of the Weak Challenge of Champs U.S. Vice-Champion. He's been the official DJ for the American Beatbox Championships since 2016, and Saturday Night Live Season 43, 44 & 48 afterparties; was resident DJ/MC at legendary jam session The Lesson; and has won every NYC freestyle rap competition in the new millennium.
He is also an ordained wedding officiant, having performed 16 secular ceremonies. In June 2022 he was honored with the Alumni Award from his alma mater, Grinnell College, which “recognizes individuals who embody the College’s mission of lifetime learning and service.” In August 2023 he will, for the second time, be a State Dept. of Cultural Affairs Hip Hop Ambassador with the Next Level initiative. He is currently finishing his new album “Fake Flowers Last Forever.” Along the journey, he’s shared the stage and studio with Aloe Blacc, The Beatbox House, bell hooks, Biz Markie, Blue Man Group, Common, Doug E. Fresh, DJ Kool Herc, DJ Rob Swift, Freestyle Fellowship, Lin Manuel-Miranda, Marley Marl, Rahzel, Robert Glasper, The Roots, Slick Rick and many more..
Samuel was on Next Level Team Uganda and will be on Next Level Team Chile.
