The Current presents Toki Wright’s new program “Wright About Now”, beginning February 28

Feb 22, 2018

ST. PAUL, February 22, 2018 – Toki Wright will soon hit the airwaves as host of his own program on The Current. “Wright About Now with Toki Wright” is set to launch February 28 and will air Wednesdays at 10 p.m. Central Time. The 60-minute program will explore the world of hip-hop, R&B, soul and much more, all with the guidance of the Emmy and CLIO Award-winning artist.

“‘Wright About Now’ will focus on hip-hop, the people and music that influenced the culture, plus the styles, sounds and stories that have come from that root,” said Toki. “But the show won’t stop at hip-hop. It will also feature lo-fi production, dancehall, classic soul, reggae, afrobeat(s), R&B, electronic and more.”

“Wright About Now” will also include exclusive interviews and offer the inside scoop on events and world premieres from independent artists.

The show has officially been in the works since Toki’s arrival at The Current in November 2017, but years of hip-hop creation, education and collaboration have led the him to this point. Toki has been instrumental in efforts to educate younger generations on the history and performance of hip-hop, including involvement with youth organization YO! The Movement, coordination of multiple Twin Cities Celebration of Hip-Hop Festival and musical mentorship of former child soldiers in Gulu, Northern Uganda, as part of H.E.A.L.S.

“With Toki’s experience not only as a radio host, but also as a recording artist and community leader, it makes him ideally suited to host and lead The Current’s hip-hop programming,” said Jim McGuinn, program director, The Current. “Toki’s excitement and enthusiasm for the music and his perspective on the audience make for a great addition to our team. He’s already been writing about concerts and releases, engaging about music on social media, hosting late nights on The Current, and helping us discover the next artists we can share with our audience.”

Toki’s global influence on the hip-hop genre has spanned multiple continents, and he has released music alongside influential names such as BJ The Chicago Kid, Talib Kweli, Big Cats, G Yamazawa and Atmosphere. Toki’s name is no stranger to the charts, either, landing on MTV’s Top 100 and iTunes Top 50 with the music he’s released on Rhymesayers Entertainment and his own label, Soul Tools.

To hear “Wright About Now”, listeners can tune in to their local station or listen live on thecurrent.org.

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About The Current
The Current® from Minnesota Public Radio® brings listeners the best authentic new music alongside the music that inspired it, from local to legendary, indie to influential, new to nostalgic. A non-commercial, listener-supported radio station, The Current® has helped launch and support more than 600 Minnesota artists during its eleven-year history. The Current Sessions®, live performances of emerging and well-established artists recorded in MPR’s Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio, have garnered national attention from music lovers, industry leaders and media outlets like Pitchfork Media, Stereogum and Prefix Magazine. One of the country’s leading authorities in presenting contemporary music to audiences, The Current® has received numerous accolades, including FMQB Triple A Conference Non-Comm Station of the Year, Program Director of the Year (Jim McGuinn), and Music Director of the Year (David Safar). City Pages readers have named the Current® “Best Radio Station” in its annual “Best of the Twin Cities” awards every year since the station’s existence.The station's online music coverage has been honored with two Page One Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists. The Current® can be heard at 89.3 in the Twin Cities, 88.7 in Rochester, 90.9 in Duluth and across Minnesota—check thecurrent.org for a complete list of stations. The Current® is available for streaming at thecurrent.org, along with other streams: Local Current (all-Minnesota music); Radio Heartland (acoustic, Americana and roots music) and Rock the Cradle (music for kids and their grownups).

Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio. Data are estimates only.