Moving the Crowd — Live Mixtape

The Art
of the
Crossfade

Who gets to tell America’s story?

See the Tour What is Crossfade?

The Project

A multi-city tour of concerts, workshops, and community dialogues that uses the DJ crossfader as both method and metaphor — to confront polarization and reimagine democratic belonging at America’s 250th.

Crossfade is a project led by cultural historian Josh Kun and hip-hop DJ / producer J.PERIOD. Each stop blends a Live Mixtape performance featuring national and local performers, storytelling workshops, and oral histories — a way of bridging divides without erasing distinct voices.

The series seeks to energize audiences across the country by connecting their own music to the civic imagination — turning the crossfader’s blend of two records into a model for how a country might hold more than one story at once.

Anatomy of a Stop

Three Movements,
One Room

Every city gets the same architecture and a different cast — the local voices are the variable, the form is the constant.

01

Musical Lecture

Cultural historian Josh Kun frames the night — tracing how the records on the table carry the arguments, migrations, and memories that built American sound.

► Listen & Watch
02

Storytelling Workshops

Hands-on sessions where audiences and artists build the narrative together — surfacing the songs, scenes, and memories that make up a place’s sense of itself.

03

The Live Mixtape

A J.PERIOD performance that splices national headliners with local performers in real time — the crossfade made audible, one record bleeding into the next without silencing either.

► Watch the Films

The Tour

Where We’re Headed

A multi-city run building toward America’s 250th. Tickets and details are rolling out — join the list to hear them first.

Jul 10–11Stop 01
Los Angeles
Venue: Grand Performances
Musical Lecture · Storytelling Workshop · Live Mixtape Crossfade
See the Jul 11 lineup →
RSVP · Jul 10 RSVP · Jul 11
Sep 17Stop 02
Phoenix
Venue: Walter Studios · 7 PM
The Art of the Crossfade · A Live Mixtape Concert Experience
See the Sep 17 lineup →
Get Tickets
Oct 10Stop 03
New Orleans
Venue: Music Box Village
Musical Lecture · Storytelling Workshop · Live Mixtape Crossfade
Tickets TBA
Oct 24Stop 04
Lincoln
Venue: Music Box
Musical Lecture · Storytelling Workshop · Live Mixtape Crossfade
Tickets TBA

Los Angeles and Phoenix confirmed — New Orleans (Oct 10) and Lincoln (Oct 24) are next. Tickets coming soon — join the list to hear first.

Next Stop · Phoenix · Sep 17

J.PERIOD & Josh Kun present The Art of the Crossfade

Crossfade:Phoenix

A Live Mixtape Concert Experience

Walter Studios September 17, 2026 7 PM with CALA Alliance
Crossfade: Phoenix — official flyer. J.PERIOD + Josh Kun present The Art of the Crossfade, a live mixtape concert experience. September 17 at Walter Studios, Phoenix, 7 PM.
Official Flyer · Sep 17 · Walter Studios, PHX
Get Tickets See the Lineup
A high-energy Hip Hop “mixtape” performed LIVE onstage—in one take.

This isn’t a concert.
It’s a live remix of Phoenix itself.

Featuring an all-star lineup of artists, musicians, DJs, and community voices representing the past, present, and future sounds of democracy.

Following Los Angeles at Grand Performances, DJ/Producer J.PERIOD and USC MacArthur Fellow Josh Kun bring The Art of the Crossfade to Walter Studios in downtown Phoenix with CALA Alliance — one night celebrating the sounds, stories, and cultures that shape America.

Featuring

The Phoenix Lineup

Harry Mack

Harry Mack

Freestyle MC

@harrymack
Mumu Fresh

Mumu Fresh

Singer · MC

@mumufresh
DJ Mal-Ski

DJ Mal-Ski

DJ

@djmalski
J.PERIOD

J.PERIOD

DJ · Producer

@jperiodbk
Josh Kun

Josh Kun

Cultural Historian

@joshdkun
Daniel Crawford

Daniel Crawford

Keys · Producer

@dshon82
Pariah Pete

Pariah Pete

MC

@pariahxpete
Se Habla Español de Los Esplifs

“Se Habla Español”

de Los Esplifs · Cumbia

@losesplifs

Los Angeles · July 11

Josh Kun & J.PERIOD with Grand Performances present

The Live Mixtape:Crossfade Edition

Live at Grand Performances

Grand Performances July 11, 2026 FREE Admission
The Live Mixtape: Crossfade Edition — official event flyer. Josh Kun + J.PERIOD present, July 11 at Grand Performances, Los Angeles. Free admission.
Official Flyer · July 11 · Grand Performances, LA
► Watch the Show See the Lineup Event Page
A high-energy Hip Hop “mixtape” performed and recorded LIVE onstage—in one take.

This isn’t a concert.
It’s a live remix of Los Angeles itself.

Featuring an all-star lineup of artists, musicians, DJs, and community voices representing the past, present, and future sounds of democracy.

Following standout performances at Roots Picnic and the Hollywood Bowl, DJ/Producer J.PERIOD joins USC MacArthur Fellow Josh Kun to bring The Live Mixtape: Crossfade Edition to Grand Performances for one unforgettable night celebrating the sounds, stories, and cultures that shape America.

Featuring

The Lineup

D Smoke

D Smoke

Rapper

@dsmoke7
Mumu Fresh

Mumu Fresh

Singer · MC

@mumufresh
Fatlip of The Pharcyde

Fatlip

The Pharcyde

@ilovefatlip
The Pocket Queen

The Pocket Queen

Drummer

@thepocketqueen
Ben Williams

Ben Williams

Bassist

@benwmsonbass
Deyra Barrera

Deyra Barrera

Vocalist

@deyrabarreratv
Kemo The Blaxican

Kemo The Blaxican

MC

@kemotheblaxican
The Neighborhood Orchestra

The Neighborhood Orchestra

Ensemble

@theneighborhoodorchestra
Daniel Crawford

Daniel Crawford

Keys · Producer

@dshon82
Faunoos

Faunoos

Artist

@faunoos

Plus DJ sets from

DJ Spider

DJ Spider

DJ Set

@djspider
DJ Mal-Ski

DJ Mal-Ski

DJ Set

@djmalski

The Voices Behind It

Curator & Conductor

Josh Kun
Cultural Historian

Josh Kun

A cultural historian, author, and curator whose work explores the intersection of music, politics, and cultural connection. Professor at USC Annenberg and the Norman Lear Center.

JoshKun.com @joshdkun
J.PERIOD
DJ & Producer

J.PERIOD

A DJ and producer known for innovative musical storytelling and high-profile collaborations across genres and culture — the architect of the Live Mixtape form at the heart of Crossfade.

jperiod.com @jperiodbk

“A way of bridging divides without erasing distinct voices.”

The Art of the Crossfade

In Partnership With

The Coalition

Presented By
USC Annenberg
Host Institution
The Norman Lear Center
Foundation
The Hearthland Foundation
Music Partner
Newport Festivals Foundation
Incubator
Salt Lick
Advocacy
Black Music Action Coalition

Stay in the Loop

Be in the Room

Cities, dates, and the first Live Mixtape are being announced soon. Get them before anyone else.

Contact
artofthecrossfade@gmail.com
Booking & Press
artofthecrossfade@gmail.com
Follow
@jperiodbk  ·  @joshdkun