Meet the Maker: Rome Herbert
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Photo: Courtesy of Rome Herbert
Meet Rome Herbert, an Indianapolis emcee who is blending hip-hop and ministry to build community.
The inspo: Herbert says his perspective on artistry and life was shaped by splitting time as kid between the suburbs and the inner city.
- While the city's northwest side was home, the presence of mental illness in his household meant a lot of days spent with his grandmother in a "separate world" that "lacked the safety of his primary residence."
- Facing the challenges of growing up between communities, Herbert said hip-hop was the medium that kept him sane.
Zoom in: With five albums under his belt, Herbert aims to make music to help listeners feel bold even in the face of difficult circumstances.
Plus: When not on the stage, Herbert engages his community as urban ministry director for Hope Church of Haughville.
What he's making now: Herbert will guide locals through the art of expression Thursday night when he leads a free hip-hop workshop from 3:30-5pm at Harrison Center.
- On Saturday, he will be back at Belmont Beach for Bless the Block Vol. III, the latest iteration of his community-centered hip-hop concert series featuring free food and live tunes.
- The concert series, which held events in May and June, is one of 16 public art projects funded through an Indy Arts Council project grant.
- Art & Soul 2026 featured artist Auboni Essence, DJ Fati and BlueGiraffeKid are also scheduled to perform.
Check him out: On his website, Instagram, YouTube or Spotify.