Jabari Exum is an electrifying performing artist born and raised in Washington, DC. He is a skilled percussionist in the West African / Latin tradition and is a prolific writer and performer of Hip-Hop music. Since 1997 Exum has also been a pioneering artist in a movement called “Hip-Hop Theater.” Exum’s approach to everything that he touches is unique and unconventional, since he is able to pull from so many different sources. He has been acting, drumming, and rapping since he was two years old and has been blessed with the opportunities to receive guidance from some of the greats across many fields of creative study. A few of his mentors have been: Debbie Allen, Chadwick Boseman, Reggie and Roy Wooten, Mamady Keita, Grady Tate, Djimo Kouyate, KRS-One, Sonya Sanchez, Glen Turner, Chucky Thompson, Bill Summers, Leon Mobley, Rickie Byars Beckwith, Robert Nothern, Mamadi Nyasuma, Baba Barnett, and Marc Cary.

Most recently Exum choreographed dance and drumming for the movie Black Panther and co-starred in two music videos with the critically acclaimed rapper, Common. He is a percussion teacher, writing coach, and a full time musician and song writer, working with artists such as Chadwick Boseman, Son Little,  Raheem DeVaughn , Dead Prez, Poor Righteous Teachers, Dr. Cornel West and The Cornel West Theory, Larry Mitchell, Tarus Mateen, Mark Cary, Maimouna Youssef, Asheru, HHP of South Africa, Federico Pena, Weedie Braimah, Michael Bowie, Ayanna Gregory, and many more. He is proud product of both the Howard University music program and the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.