
2021
FUTURE MAKER
Add-2
Born on the South Side of Chicago, AT&T Bream in Black Future Maker Andre "Add-2" Daniels has used his gift with words as well as his passion for his community to change the reality that surrounds him. As an artist, his music blends hip hop, jazz and soul while tying it to a message that celebrates Black culture and Black history.As a mentor/community activist, he built a free studio/music mentoring program for teens and young adults called "Haven Studios." This program has become a safe space for many youths all over the city of Chicago, encouraging them to find their creative voices and tell their stories, connecting them with resources to develop careers in entertainment. Knowing the importance of education, Add-2 created a scholarship for Black girls entering college (The Ridley Victoria Scholarship - in memory of a former mentee) as well as a full-ride scholarship to Millikin University. When the world shut its doors Add-2 created a music equipment drive that collected items to help youth build recording setups at home during COVID-19.He has worked with Michelle Obama's organization, When We All Vote, is a member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYs), has given a TEDx Talk titled "The Power of Music," was the first Rap Consultant for the Goodman Theater and has performed on stage with GRAMMY Award winners The Roots and Robert Glasper. In 2019 he released his critically acclaimed album "Jim Crow: The Musical" and continues to find innovative ways to celebrate Black culture while investing in its future."With artists like Add-2, he is somebody who seems like he really cares about uplifting people and that's inspiring to see, I get inspired by people that do that no matter what. No matter what age you are, where you're from, when you're really trying to do something good, I see that and I'm like 'man...' It's a good reminder in what I should be doing." - Common