Sneakers and Speakers: Raise Your Voice
It’s that time of year again, Sneakers and Speakers is back!
The date is set, and planning is underway! Our annual event is back here at Focus: HOPE and we’re excited for you to join us this year where we are celebrating Juneteenth through music. This year we are taking you through a timeline of music history and the culturally shifting moments that influenced music forever.
Hailing from the vibrant city of Detroit, Asaka The Renegade is a dynamic artist with a unique voice and an incredible story. Asaka stands out in today’s music landscape by blending diverse genres such as rap, funk, dancehall, and R&B, creating a soundscape that is fresh, versatile, and universally appealing. His creativity and authenticity resonate deeply with fans, earning him over 300,000 streams across platforms and a loyal audience eager to experience his art.
Asaka’s rise in the industry has been marked by numerous high-profile achievements. He has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in hip hop, most recently he gained even more recognition by winning T-Pain’s March Music Madness competition, a testament to his undeniable talent and growing influence in the industry.
DJ Bruce Bailey born in Detroit, MI. is recognized as Underground Royalty in the Birth City of Techno. In the 1990s he held down the longest House Music Weekly in Detroit history at Club 246 and then recreated an identically successful stint in the 2000s at the iconic Lola’s Restaurant (Harmonie Park). In his brilliant career Bruce routinely performs on bills with the biggest names in the entire House Music Industry including past performances with: Louie Vega, Moodymann, Carl Craig, D-Nice. Osunlade, DJ Spen, Kevin Saunderson, Claude Young, The Chosen Few DJs, Derrick May, Jazzy Jeff, DJ Minx, Ron Trent, Farley, Jimpster, Juan Atkins, Omar S, Eddie Fowlkes, Rick Wilhite, Detroit Techno Militia amongst hundreds of others.
A few notable moments in his career thus far include:
- An Extended Opening Set for The Jackson 5
- Headlining Lebron James Super Bowl Soirée
- Featured Artist for Aretha Franklin’s Final Concert
- Performed at The New York Marathon Gala, The Barristers Ball, The Children’s Fund, Wright Gala Fundraiser, Hill Harper for Senate Soiree
Robin has devoted the past two decades to carrying the torch for one of Detroit’s most notable entrepreneurial families and preserving the legacy of an iconic brand, “Motown.”
Robin is the Chairwoman and CEO for Motown Museum, a cultural gem founded in 1985 by her grandmother, the late Esther Gordy Edwards. Mrs. Edwards was a senior executive at Motown Record’s and sister of Motown founder, Berry Gordy.
Robin’s mission is to build on her grandmother’s vision to tell the authentic story of Motown by expanding the creative magnet of Motown to inevitably help transform the community. She believes Motown magnifies what is best about Detroiters and tells a story of resilience, persistence, as well as the power of creative synergy. With her continued work and dedication to the development of Detroit and to the preservation of its history, Motown Museum will continue to serve as a beacon in the community that can inspire the entrepreneurial and creative spirit for generations to come.
Mersiless Amir is a Detroit Rap Icon. One of the original lyrical artists from the city, he’s best known for the complex technical rhyme structures that he delivered on his debut single “A Day Without a Rhyme” which quickly became a Detroit Hip Hop anthem and still remains the stuff of legend. Often compared to God MC Rakim, Amir’s musical encapsulates a touch of wisdom along with the sophisticated street sense that resonates throughout the verses and stanzas. In pursuit of the dream, Amir had opportunities to travel to America’s music capitals, recording in Hollywood with the DJ Quik camp and working under the mentorship of Grandmaster Flash in the Bronx, Amir leveled up his flow and honed his production skills. The next stop was overseas where he signed a recording contract with the Polydor label which was a major learning experience.
Proactive where his career is concerned, Amir moved to Los Angeles where he worked with some A-list artists such as his home girl Aaliyah, Christina Aguilera, and recently Teddy Riley.
Meaghan Madison is a seasoned worship leader with over 25 years of musical experience. As Music Director at Higher Ground Ministries, and serving several other churches across the Detroit metro, she brings passion and precision to every service. She’s a versatile instrumentalist—proficient in violin, keyboard, and vocals—and her performances are deeply rooted in faith, community, and inspiration. Whether leading a choir, composing worship sets, or mentoring musicians, Meaghan’s mission is to connect hearts through music.
Tony Green is a legendary bassist, producer, and music executive whose career spans over five decades. He began playing bass at 14 and founded his first band, Roadwork, in 1971. His big break came in 1975 when he joined the iconic R&B group The Dramatics, contributing as a bassist, songwriter, and producer to multiple hits, including tracks from their gold-certified album Do What You Wanna Do and the top 10 single Welcome Back Home.
In 1978, Tony co-wrote One of Those Funky Things with George Clinton and Ron Banks of The Dramatics, a track that would go on to become one of the most sampled songs in hip-hop history. His influence only grew as he became band director and bassist for Death Row Records during the rise of the G-Funk era. His signature bass lines helped shape multi-platinum albums like Doggystyle by Snoop Dogg, All Eyez on Me by Tupac, and hit tracks such as Let Me Ride (Remix) by Dr. Dre and Regulate by Warren G.
Today, as Founder and CEO of Hyped International Records, Tony continues to innovate, producing a diverse catalog that blends R&B, hip-hop, funk, soul, and rock. His work has been sampled by artists including DMX, Erykah Badu, Ice Cube, and The Game, cementing his legacy as a cornerstone of modern music.
To round off our impressive panel we are excited to welcome our moderator, Kahn Davison
Kahn Santori Davison is from Detroit, Michigan. He’s been a journalist and photographer for the Detroit Metro Times since 2004 and a featured writer for Model D Media since 2021.He’s appeared on Netflix’s “Hip-Hop Evolution,” FX’s “Hip-Hop Uncovered,” CBS News, and TV ONE’s “Sins of the City.”
Kahn is a Cave Canem fellow, his poetry book Blaze was published by Willow Books in 2015. He is the recipient of the 2015 Kresge Literary Arts Fellowship, a 2018 “Documenting Detroit Fellowship,” and received a Society of Professional Journalists featured writing award in 2024.
Throughout the night we will enjoy sounds from Focus: HOPE favorite, Tee Two Times!
DJ, multimedia personality, event host, and Content Creator, Teeahnah “Tee Two Times” Addison is a multi-faceted talent who is fun, optimistic and light-hearted. She found that her love for people and music are best combined on the airwaves so she began her radio career in 2014 at Howard University, her alma mater followed up by 6 years on
Detroit’s Hot 107.5 FM. Her In the Kitchen Radio brand is where listeners are invited to “cook up” the best experience possible via plant-based meals, curated DJ mixes, and great conversations. Tee has also launched a cooking show on YouTube called Time Two EET! aiming to educate people about plant-based meal options while learning more about their favorite recording artists and a podcast called No Mama, No Manual to help others address the grief that comes with life after losing a parent.
Over the past 10 years, Tee Two Times has not only honed her ability as a multimedia talent but she has also become a well respected DJ. Dedication to her craft has put Tee behind turntables internationally for brands and organizations such as Focus Hope, the NAACP, Fashion Nova, Footlocker and more . She is also featured as a guest mixer for the nationally syndicated radio show, Posted on The Corner. With her limitless passion and focused self-investment, Tee Two Times is continuing to lay the foundation for a lasting career in the entertainment industry.
Other great things to look forward to during this year’s event? Food by Cooking with Que and a silent auction featuring 15 exciting items including: (2) tickets to The Queens concert featuring Patti Labelle, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan and Stephanie Mills at Little Caesars Arena! We are excited for you to join us as we kick off Juneteenth celebrating music and the moments that have influenced the culture forever. Don’t forget to where your favorite sneakers so you can get featured on this year’s sneaker cam!
More event details below, get your tickets today!
Sneakers and Speakers: Raise Your Voice
Where: 1400 Oakman Blvd, Detroit, MI 48238
When: Thursday, June 12 | 5:30-9 pm
Tickets: $25 | Get Your Tickets Here
All proceeds from ticket sales will go back to Focus: HOPE programming!
Sponsorship opportunities are available, for more information contact: Erica Sanders, [email protected]
