ALPHABET ROCKERS

GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING HIP-HOP GROUP

 

ABOUT

Alphabet Rockers make music that sparks change. Co-leaders Kaitlin McGaw (she/her) and Tommy Soulati Shepherd (he/him/they) are visionary artists who create a culture of belonging for all of us. Alphabet Rockers are GRAMMY-winners, 4-time GRAMMY nominees, nationally renowned children’s book authors, influential media creatives, keynote speakers, performers and commissioned songwriters for animation and other projects. 

Their music and leadership is built from their combined pedigree of applied research and creative practice. Kaitlin McGaw is a Harvard University graduate in African American Studies; Tommy Shepherd is a Pacific Conservatory of Theatre graduate. Alphabet Rockers creative practice centers youth voices and asks how and what is needed to create inclusion and belonging.  Through this fifteen year collaboration, Kaitlin and Tommy are building a legacy for children's media, reaching over 5M listeners and uplifting diverse voices from our communities.

As touring and resident artists, Alphabet Rockers has been featured by The Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture, SXSW, Lollapalooza and festivals around the country, in addition to performing for hundreds of students across the country each year. Their performances, media and artistry include an impactful and diverse line-up of artists, including DJ Roza Do, choreographer Samara Atkins, youth artists Kali de Jesus, Maya Fleming and Tommy Shepherd III, and dancers Arayah Fleming and Marj Ortiz. 

As content creators, Alphabet Rockers have partnered with Lawrence Hall of Science and COSI (Center for Science and Industry), writing songs and voicing science animations for kids. They’ve developed their anti-racist curriculum for kids We Got Work to Do, using music and dance as embodiment tools, as seen on CBS This Morning and featured on YouTube Kids. The duo offers community songwriting and movement workshops for kids, families and educators, rooted in self-acceptance and nurturing collective imagination as tools for change. Alphabet Rockers has appeared on dozens of albums and music videos. They work collaboratively producing music, media and commissioned pieces with contemporary sounds, visuals and lyrical impact, supported by partners, foundations and communities. Their debut picture book, You Are Not Alone (Sourcebooks) is available now at bookstores nationwide. 

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao proclaimed September 17, 2023 as “Alphabet Rockers Day” and awarded Alphabet Rockers the Key to the City of Oakland, in recognition that their “approach with youth has been immensely successful, gaining them critical acclaim, national renown and numerous awards and nominations.”

What People Are Saying About Alphabet Rockers!

Teaching children about social justice issues may sound daunting, but Alphabet Rockers make it look easy. -School Library Journal

Alphabet Rockers keep the culture of hip hop alive and instill in our children an appreciation for the rhythm, poetry, positivity, and movement that make up one of the most appreciated art forms on the globe. -At-Home Dad Matters

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Alphabet Rockers is important music... it creates the culture of the world we want.
— W. Kamau Bell, CNN