It's a space where young, enthusiastic gamers can learn from professionals and gain insights into the gaming industry. It's a space that fosters creativity, collaboration, and most importantly, inclusivity. It’s called The Kickback
Ryan Johnson: “The Kickback is everything entertainment, everything engagement, but more importantly everything education. We conceived the idea of celebrating the lifestyle of gaming culture by blending that with esports and creating opportunities for young people of color to learn how they can grow and thrive in the space.”
Black Culture and gaming have always been intertwined, but in more ways than none it seems The culture is hardly included when it comes to the broader gaming culture and its representation. Presented by Cxmmunity The Kickback seeks to bridge this gap, championing for the greater representation of people of color in gaming. By giving a voice to a diverse set of experiences and perspectives, it's paving the way of more inclusive and equitable gaming culture. Which is super important, cause look at the killmonger hairstyle. Now, look at Miles Morales from Spiderman. Now, look at Ekko from League of Legends. Now, look at Phoenix from Valorant. I could keep going, but you get the point.
At The Kickback, one could see the future of gaming - diverse, inclusive, and richly influenced by a kaleidoscope of cultures. The Kickback fosters a sense of belonging and provides a platform for underrepresented voices in the gaming world. It’s not just about playing the games; it’s about changing the game. Being able to serve a series of panels, job opportunities, and tournaments in gaming, then ending the night with a live performance featuring Timothy Isaiah and NLE Choppa is unprecedented. But anyone who's been to a kickback knows it's going to be chill and lit at the same time.
Olly Sholotan, best known for his role of Carlton Banks on the Bel-Air reboot, joins hosts Ryan Johnson and Dalmar Wiltshire to talk music, gaming, acting and entertainment. Olly shares his origin story with audience of dancing on tables as a kid, dreams of playing soccer but also getting into coding. Pulling from his multitude of interest, Sholotan explains how he landed into acting and music production, highlighting his 2025 EP "Ollywood BLVD." The trio also take a deep dive into the movie theater industry and the complexities of content creation but also how viewers are inundated with series across multiple platforms.
Leeeeeeet's Gooooo ... Troop and Kiko Blac giving us nothin but heat. Are you an Anime Fan? What's your favorite anime?
Influencer Ashton Hall went viral for his get ready with me (GRWM) content which included an early morning face wash with a bottle of Saratoga Water. Ryan and Dalmar address concerns of brands paying or not paying influencers after their content leads to massive sales. In this case, Hall wasn’t paid or asked to make the content but it didn’t stop Saratoga from mentioning the 10.9% increase in followers and 1.26 billion reach from Hall’s content. Should Saratoga pay Hall?
On December 19-21, Rolling Loud Miami saw a groundbreaking fusion of music, gaming, and media, thanks to a dynamic partnership with Cxmmunity Media. Renowned for bridging cultural gaps through gaming, Cxmmunity Media, for the second time at Rolling Loud (Rolling Loud LA 2024), activated its one-of-a-kind gaming and interview booth that added a fresh, interactive layer to the festival experience for artists and fans alike.
