My most vivid mixtape memory was when my dad and aunts taught me how to make my own mixtape with a cassette tape. We had a stereo at home and we would listen to WGCI and I would live record some of my favorite Hip Hop and R&B songs from Mary J Blige, TLC, Jodeci, Dru Hill, Tupac, Biggie, Guy, Usher, Monica, Aaliyah, etc.
As the 00’s began to approach I had more understanding of the mixtape and started to create mix CDs and would create them based off of themes (slow jams, party mix, holidays). Now that has evolved to creating various playlists through Apple Music and Spotify. I’m grateful to be able to witness the evolution of this format of creating my own mixtape but also witnessing the bruh’s sell their mixtapes in neighborhoods outside of their cars.
My thesis/research R3Mx: An Embodied Structured Mixtape is based on creating a concept mixtape through dance. It features DJ HeadphonzE (Tallahassee native), Danie Etienne, Music by JLin and Kojo, and Co-Visual Directors/ Collaborators, Linxin “Kisa” Li, Scribbles, Sim, and Colby Thadd. It was presented at Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre at Florida State University on February 25-26, 2022.
Dedrick “D. Banks” Gray a Chicago Native is a performing artist, choreographer, educator, and producer. His work in the field of dance and entertainment focuses on themes surrounding Hip Hop and the African Diaspora. Gray earned a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia College Chicago, where he sculpted his education and training in dance, marketing communication, live entertainment/production, and art administration. He recently completed his MFA in Choreography and Performance at Florida State University. His thesis “R3Mx: An Embodied Structured Mixtape”, comprised six embodied-visual tracks that explored African American Linguistics through social and cultural practices. Gray also has supported various arts organizations through administration and service such as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography. He has worked and performed with prolific artists and companies such as Gwen Welliver, Ron K. Brown, Allison Janae Hamilton, Onye Ozuzu, Darrell Jones, Dianne McIntyre, J’ Sun Howard, Nick Cave, Muntu Dance Theater of Chicago, Red Clay Dance Company, Jawole Zollar and Urban Bush Women.