Kareem Watts

musician

 

BIOGRAPHY

Kareem Watts, artistically known as Kareem Elevated, is a rap lyricist, spoken word poet, and educator whose work bridges artistry, scholarship, and community engagement. For more than two decades, he has written, performed, and used hip hop as a vehicle for storytelling, education, and social impact. As an award-winning educator with experience in higher education, Kareem has dedicated his career to empowering students through culturally relevant teaching and creative expression.

His current project, Flo-etic Storytelling Mixtape Ch. 5, is his first full-length album and is inspired by his doctoral dissertation on hip hop pedagogy and Black college student success. In Kareem’s professional work in diversity and inclusion, he strives to create spaces where people from all backgrounds feel seen, valued, and empowered. That same mission fuels his music. He is passionate about using hip hop rooted in the Gospel, social justice, and authentic storytelling to inspire youth, young adults, and broader communities. He creates because he believes art has the power to educate, build bridges across cultures, and contribute to positive change, and he sees In Progress as a place where that vision can continue to grow.

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