About This Event
AFW 2026: Mike Monford J Dilla Tribute; Rap Panel & J Bambii Film takes place Saturday, October 3, at Elastic Arts, 3429 West Diversey Avenue, #208, Chicago. The free, all-ages program begins at 5 PM and includes a rap panel, a sound work, a film preview, and a 9 PM performance by Mike Monford & The Afrofuturistic Vibe.
At 5 PM, 2026 Dark Matter Resident Aquil “AQ” Charlton leads Lyrical Miracles: Rap Artists & the Craft and Culture, a discussion of hip-hop and lyricism with PsalmOne, green Slime, Asha Omega, and J Bambii, appearing remotely from the UK. The panel addresses rap songwriting, lyrical craft, and the value of lyricism among artists, audiences, and the music industry.
Following the panel, Dark Matter Resident Amari Amai presents de/cipher, a 360-degree sound and storytelling work using Elastic Arts’ 16-channel CLEAT sound system. J Bambii will also present a preview of J Bambii’s Black American Beauty: The Live Experience, a film by Kin Marie centered on J Bambii’s 2024 performance at Sleeping Village.
At 9 PM, reedist and composer Mike Monford & The Afrofuturistic Vibe perform a tribute to Monford’s childhood friend and colleague J Dilla. The program includes four new compositions in honor of J Dilla and a new composition planned for Monford’s next album, NIGHT BLOOMING CEREUS.
- Mike Monford — alto saxophone and vocals
- Corey Wilkes — trumpet
- Louis M. Jones III — drums
- Josef Deas — bass
- Tara Shaheer Monford — spoken word
- Ytasha Womack — spoken word
- Lufuki Ismaeel Dhul-Qarnayn — guitar
- Afrofuturistic Strings: Laina Martin — violin; Indira Edwards — viola; Brendan Callies — cello
Event Flyer
