Joey Bada$$ is proving his influence stretches far beyond his bars, and his latest endeavor is proof. On Dec. 12, the New York City rapper invited guests to celebrate the first year of his Impact Mentorship program, a free program that provides men of color with mentors in their respective fields.
The intimate and inspiring event was held in partnership with Tres Generaciones Tequila at Tatiana’s at the Lincoln Center, the “hottest restaurant in the city” according to the rapper. Mentors in attendance included Cordae, Billboard editor Carl Lamarre, designer Colm Dillane, and more highly acclaimed professionals across the entertainment, entrepreneurial, art, and business spaces.
After shouting out his own mentor Sophia Chang, his parents, and chef Tatiana’s head chef, Kwame Onwuachi, the “Show Me” emcee delivered a heartfelt speech about the program and his reasons for founding it.
“Lately I’ve been getting asked the question a lot, ‘Why start a mentorship program?’ The answer is quite simple to me: necessity. We need programs like this. People sleep on the fact how important it is, especially communities of color to have proper representation. I’ve been navigating this industry for the last 12 years of my life. Every room, every table I come into, the circumstances are the same; not enough people who look like me in positions of leadership. So this is my small contribution to the world of how I can make a difference and make a change.”
“Making music is cool. Having platinum records is cool. Starring TV shows and all of that is cool. But this is my greatest creation to date,” he added as the attendees clapped and joined him in a toast.
Take a look at highlights from Joey Bada$$’s Impact Mentorship program holiday dinner down below.
Impact Mentorship Holiday Celebration Hosted By Joey Bada$$
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 12: Cordae, Joey Bada$$ and Colm Dillane attend the Impact Mentorship holiday celebration hosted by Joey Bada$$ on December 12, 2024 in New York City.
Impact Mentorship Holiday Celebration Hosted By Joey Bada$$
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 12: Joey Bada$$ attends the Impact Mentorship holiday celebration hosted by Joey Bada$$ on December 12, 2024 in New York City.
Impact Mentorship Holiday Celebration Hosted By Joey Bada$$
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 12: Joey Bada$$ attends the Impact Mentorship holiday celebration hosted by Joey Bada$$ on December 12, 2024 in New York City.
Impact Mentorship Holiday Celebration Hosted By Joey Bada$$
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 12: Brian “B.Dot” Miller attends the Impact Mentorship holiday celebration hosted by Joey Bada$$ on December 12, 2024 in New York City.
Impact Mentorship Holiday Celebration Hosted By Joey Bada$$
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 12: Cordae attends the Impact Mentorship holiday celebration hosted by Joey Bada$$ on December 12, 2024 in New York City.
Impact Mentorship Holiday Celebration Hosted By Joey Bada$$
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 12: Carla Miller, Treva B. Lindsey, Sophia Chang, Ella Gudwin, and Catherine Vasque attend the Impact Mentorship holiday celebration hosted by Joey Bada$$ on December 12, 2024 in New York City.
Impact Mentorship Holiday Celebration Hosted By Joey Bada$$
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 12: Carl Lamarre and Sophia Chang attend the Impact Mentorship holiday celebration hosted by Joey Bada$$ on December 12, 2024 in New York City.
Impact Mentorship Dinner
Image Credit: Emerald Knox 
Image Credit: Emerald Knox Impact Mentorship Dinner
Image Credit: Emerald Knox Impact Mentorship Dinner
Image Credit: Emerald Knox Impact Mentorship Holiday Celebration Hosted By Joey Bada$$
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 12: Colm Dillane attends the Impact Mentorship holiday celebration hosted by Joey Bada$$ on December 12, 2024 in New York City.
Impact Mentorship Dinner
Image Credit: Emerald Knox Impact Mentorship Dinner
Image Credit: Emerald Knox Impact Mentorship Dinner
Image Credit: Emerald Knox Impact Mentorship Dinner
Image Credit: Emerald Knox Impact Mentorship Dinner
Image Credit: Emerald Knox Impact Mentorship Dinner
Image Credit: Emerald Knox Impact Mentorship Dinner
Image Credit: Emerald Knox
