When Money Makes Change

Vol. 1 FinFest winner

Vol. 2 FinFest winner

Vol. 3 FinFest winner

Vol 4. FinFest winner

Will you be our 4th Hip Hop FinFest winner?

📣 Early deadline: May 30th, 2025 - get feedback from one of our judges and the opportunity to revise and resubmit

📣 Final deadline: August 25, 2025

📣 Community Concert and winners announced: early November 2025

Hip Hop FinFest is:

🎵 A youth song competition where the top 3 finalists get cash prizes (1st - $1,000, 2nd - $500, and 3rd - $250) and a SONY Studio in a Backpack valued at over $1300

🎤 A community concert where the top 2 finalists get an all expenses paid trip to NYC and perform their song to an enthusiastic crowd

📝 A chance to have Hip Hop legends give you feedback on your music and songwriting skills

🎨 A groundbreaking arts & finance program for schools and organizations

👥 An opportunity for educators to connect with their students on a deeper level

💸 A program that puts youth front and center as the voices of tomorrow on one of the most crucial topics in our lives: MONEY

2025’s Theme:

When Money Makes Change

This year, it’s all about financial advocacy. Now more than ever, we need to be equipped to be able to advocate for ourselves and our fellow community members. That means: 

  1. Knowing how financial systems work so you can speak up, ask questions, and not get scammed

  2. Understanding your relationship with money so you can speak from an empowered place

  3. Learning how to use art and music as tools for sharing your purpose, your vision, and your voice.

The Hip Hop FinFest lessons will teach you how to be a financial advocate, whether you submit a song or not (though we’re excited to see what you come up with!)

So, you said there were going to be prizes??

SONY Studio in a Backpack equipment for all finalists (it’s pretty sweet):

ZV-1 Camera

Wireless Bluetooth® Shooting Grip and Tripod

WH-CH510 Wireless Headphones with Microphone

Rechargeable Battery Pack

Tough M 64GB Memory Card

Portable Bluetooth® Wireless Speaker

Shotgun Microphone

Grand Prize Winner:

$1,000 cash prize

SONY Studio in a Backpack with over $1,300 of equipment

All expenses paid trip to NYC for you and a guardian, including flight, hotel, and meals

Perform your winning song at the live Hip Hop FinFest Concert

Receive video feedback from our Hip Hop legend judges

2nd Place Winner:

$500 cash prize

SONY Studio in a Backpack with over $1,300 of equipment

Receive video feedback from our Hip Hop legend judges

3rd Place Winner:

$250 cash prize

SONY Studio in a Backpack with over $1,300 of equipment

Receive video feedback from our Hip Hop legend judges

📣 Early deadline: May 30th, 2025 - get feedback from one of our judges and the opportunity to revise and resubmit

📣 Final deadline: August 25, 2025

📣 Community Concert and winners announced: early November 2025

    • Must be between 12-18 years old to submit.

    • Must be a resident of the United States, Canada, or Caribbean

    • Must use content from at least one of the financial education lessons provided.

    • Must choose a beat provided by the competition.

    • Your song must include a minimum of 2 verses and one chorus or hook.

    • Must submit video performance - NO audio-only submissions will be accepted.

    • Individual submissions - NO group submissions

    • Absolutely no cursing or profanity allowed.

  • 🎤 Complete all 5 Hip Hop FinFe$t online challenges to get ideas for your song

    🎤 Record your first cut to leave time for edits & reshoot

    🎤 Submit your song by the Early Deadline of May 30, 2025 for one-on-one feedback from one of our judges and the opportunity to re-submit

    🎤 Final submission deadline is August 25, 2025

📣 Early deadline: May 30th, 2025 - get feedback from one of our judges and the opportunity to revise and resubmit

📣 Final deadline: August 25, 2025

📣 Community Concert and winners announced: early November 2025

Past Winners

3rd Annual Hip-Hop FinFest Winning Video By K0RE

2nd Annual Hip-Hop FinFest Winning Video By Breadwinna’ CJ

1st Annual Hip-Hop FinFest Winning Video By JC Meraki

2024’s theme was Mic Check, Mind Check, Money Check - How we feel about money influences what we think about money, which influences what we do with our money. The connection between our mental health and emotions are vital. If we can understand our feelings, we can make better decisions about living well today while saving for the future. 

Check out the Highlights!

Sponsors!

Program & Performance Partners

Sponsors

Past Finfest Judges

Current & Past Collaborators