Lupe Fiasco, Malik Yusef to Headline Chicago’s 17th Annual Global Mixx Music & Film Forum (Chicago, IL) — In an entertainment industry often defined by fleeting trends and fierce competition, Chicago’s creative ecosystem has always anchored itself in community. That collaborative spirit is the driving force behind the 17th Annual Global Mixx Music and Film Forum, a two-day educational and networking summit returning to the city on November 13 and 14.
Operating under the 2026 theme, “Culture Over Everything,” the weekend aims to celebrate and equip the diverse communities that shape the urban creative landscape, from filmmaking and digital media to artist advocacy and DJ culture.
The forum kicks off Friday evening, November 13, with the VIP Game Changers Awards at Imani Studio in Bronzeville. Hosted by local music retail legend and historian George Daniels, the ceremony will honor a formidable class of cultural heavyweights and civic leaders. This year’s honorees include Grammy-winning rapper Lupe Fiasco, house music pioneer Vince Lawrence, Commissioner Bill Lowry, and digital media trailblazers like Keke Hampton and Dani Jackson-Smith.
The program will also present Dr. Carol Adams with The Oracle Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her decades of community stewardship and arts advocacy.
On Saturday, November 14, the focus shifts from celebration to education as the forum takes over Malcolm X College on the Near West Side. For nearly two decades, Global Mixx has functioned as an incubator and safe space for emerging artists to rub elbows with seasoned professionals. Saturday’s schedule is packed with panel discussions, short documentary screenings, speed mentoring sessions, and a creative vendor market.
A major draw for this year’s forum is an exclusive songwriting and production bootcamp. The intensive session will be co-led by five-time Grammy Award-winning producer Malik Yusef, Chief Keef’s producer and musical director Johnny 6bravo, and singer-songwriter Jameisha Trice.
True to the organization’s mission of workforce development and equitable access, high school and college students are invited to attend Saturday’s events completely free of charge.
The scope of this year’s forum is a long way from the organization’s grassroots origins. Since its inception in 2005 as a regional DJ retreat, the Global Mixx platform has steadily evolved to reflect the rapidly shifting terrain of the entertainment business. Founder Mary L. Datcher, a veteran music journalist and marketer who has worked with artists ranging from Kanye West to The Roots, built the nonprofit to bridge the gap between legacy executives and the next generation of storytellers.
“When we launched the first Global Mixx DJ Retreat in 2005, we couldn’t have foreseen that our focus on building relationships across entertainment spaces would become a blueprint for other programs,” Datcher said. “Business models are constantly changing, and our mission is to keep equipping creators with the resources to grow and sharpen their professional skills.”
Over the years, the forum’s alumni and speaker roster has grown into a who’s-who of urban entertainment, playing host to visionary creatives like Common, George Tillman Jr., Robin Thede, and No I.D.
As the digital economy continues to change how art is consumed, the Global Mixx Music and Film Forum remains a steadfast cornerstone for Chicago’s local talent, ensuring that creators have both the network and the know-how to build sustainable careers.
Lupe Fiasco, Malik Yusef to Headline Chicago’s 17th Annual Global Mixx Music & Film Forum
