Aisha Fukushima

Aisha Fukushima is a singer, public speaker, educator, writer & self-proclaimed ‘RAPtivist’ (rap activist).  As leader of the ‘RAPtivism’ (rap activism) project, Aisha raises social awareness through connections between global hip hop & social justice. Since 2007 she has engaged in hip hop communities from France to Morocco, England, South Africa, Senegal, India, Denmark & beyond. 

Growing up behind the scenes of the music industry, Aisha was exposed firsthand to legendary artists who inspired the birth of hip hop such as James Brown, Funkadelic and The Stylistics. This eventually lead Aisha to create her own unparalleled vocal style blending soulful melodies, poetic lyricism and beatboxing. Fans compare Aisha’s music to the likes of renowned artists such as Lauryn Hill, Adele, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald and Jill Scott. Her influences also include Erykah Badu, Lupe Fiasco, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Mos Def, and countless international hip hop acts.

Her ‘RAPtivism’ work has been featured by Oprah Magazine, The Seattle Times, TV 2M Morocco, The Bangalore Mirror, HYPE : South Africa’s #1 Hip Hop Magazine and more. She has also graced stages from the historic Paramount Theater in Seattle, Washington to TEDxSitka, Pirineos Sur in the mountains of Spain and Mawazine Festival hosted by King Mohammed VI in Rabat, Morocco.

Over the last 8 years, Aisha’s passion for empowering young people through the performing arts has led her to build educational programs such as Turn Off The Stereotypes (2005), Whitman Institute of Summer Enrichment (2006) and SISTARZ, an all-girls hip hop club (2012). She has also been honored with a number of prestigious fellowships for her work from institutions such as Duke University’s Institute of Summer Enrichment, Humanity in Action’s European Program (The Netherlands) and the Thomas J. Watson Foundation.