Words Beats & Life
Richard Soben is a Senior Graphic Illustrator at Words Beats & Life, responsible for developing visual assets for marketing and sales since August 2020. Concurrently, Richard serves as the Lead Graphic Designer for Anacostia Business Improvement District, overseeing the creation of various visual materials and managing the design process. Additionally, Richard worked as a Muralist at Port Discovery Children's Museum in June 2023, collaborating on a mural project, and previously held the position of Illustrator for Sharon Wilkes Co. from December 2020 to April 2022. Richard began an artistic journey at Montgomery College, earning an Associate of Arts in Fine/Studio Arts before advancing to a Bachelor’s degree in Illustration from the Maryland Institute College of Art, anticipated for completion in 2024.
Words Beats & Life
Words Beats & Life began as a conference at the University of Maryland in the fall of 2000; our founders worked to create a vehicle to transform individual lives and communities through Hip-Hop. Today, Words Beats & Life uses a holistic approach to youth, and community development that involves hip-hop artists, scholars, educators, activists, and allies. Our Mission: Our mission is to transform individual lives and whole communities through Hip-Hop. We do this through public art creation, teaching courses in the core elements of Hip-Hop, publishing a global academic journal on Hip-Hop, sending artists abroad and hosting Teach-Ins and retreats to build the capacity of scholars, artists and arts educators and arts managers from throughout the country and around the world.