An interesting offshoot of Ibiza's International Music Summit, IMS Engage returns to Los Angeles for a third consecutive year on the 15th of April at the W Hotel, Hollywood baby. A series of conversations will be held between heavyweights and fast-risers from the worlds of finance, technology, music and media to address the growing influence of electronic music on global culture and music.
The first conversation pairings have just been announced. The first pairing will include hip-hop icon and Public Enemy co-founder Chuck D in conversation with Detroit-born eloquent hellraiser, Seth Troxler, one of underground dance music's most outspoken characters. The second happy couple set for a deep and meaningful chat will include Warner Music and DefJam label mogul Lyor Cohen, with 3rd Brain Management's Jake Udell, a rising star in the music industry and manager behind EDM acts Krewella and Zhu.
Always intent on sparking lively and topical debate, IMS HQ had this to say about the topics at hand...
"Pairing Troxler and Chuck D shows IMS' dedication to exploring contentious and important issues facing electronic music. In the face of increasing commercialism and the rise of EDM in America, many fans attending electronic music festivals and events are unaware that electronic music originated from African American communities in Chicago and Detroit. The voices of these originators and pioneers are hard to find amidst the current wave of EDM superstar DJs, who have little in-common with the men who pioneered this music.... In Cohen and Udell IMS Engage is pairing the best and brightest of two generations and exploring the similarities and differences that exist between hip-hop's growth in popularity in the 90s and that of electronic music today."
Seth Troxler also expressed his excitement at the discussion to come...
“I am honored to be give a chance to sit down in conversation at IMS LA with Chuck D, one of the true pioneers, innovators and rebels of the hip-hop movement. Back in the day artists like Chuck D had the balls and vision to thrust hip hop into the political domain and form a bridge between music and politics that I personally feel very strongly about. It's going to be an interesting debate and I look forward to seeing my Dad Sherman sitting front-row as he's a huge Public Enemy fan!”
