John Robinson has been teaching since he picked up his first instrument—the microphone. Inspired by hip-hop legends like KRS-1, Slick Rick, Brand Nubian and KMD there’s no wonder he’s metamorphosed into equal parts scientist, political advisor and storyteller. Before he knew what a teaching artist was, he was expanding vocabularies, delivering information through social commentary, and demonstrating how to move the crowd.
Initially under the alias Lil Sci of jazz influenced hip-hop group Scienz of Life, Robinson germinated and bloomed in underground music scenes from New York and New Jersey to Atlanta and Los Angeles. Since his official debut on Bobbito Garcia’s Fondle ‘Em Records in 1996, the South Bronx born, Far Rockaway and Central New Jersey raised emcee’s universal sound has resonated worldwide. He’s shared stages around the globe with the late icon Gil Scott Heron; consummate musicians The Roots and Flying Lotus; purveyors of enlightenment Common, X Clan, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, and Dead Prez and pioneers like Jungle Brothers, Run DMC and MF DOOM. A lifelong learner, Robinson took notes and soon mastered the art of reaching audiences both en masse and individually.