Rap Snacks and BlockWork TV are joining forces for a nationwide talent search aimed at discovering the next breakout rapper in hip hop. Launching May 22 in Atlanta, the six-city tour gives independent artists the opportunity to compete for a chance to become the face of an official Rap Snacks and BlockWork TV chip bag distributed nationwide alongside legendary names like Snoop Dogg, Migos, Lil Baby, and Rick Ross.
The competition will travel through Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York, Detroit, Chicago, and Miami, selecting up to 25 artists in each city to participate. One winner will be chosen at every stop, with all six finalists later coming together to create Mixtape Vol. 1, a collaborative project designed to spotlight emerging talent from across the country.
From those six finalists, one national winner will receive the ultimate prize: their own branded Rap Snacks and BlockWork TV chip bag distributed through the same retail channels that place Rap Snacks products in major stores including Costco and Target.
The partnership represents a major cultural crossover between two brands deeply connected to hip hop. Founded in 1994 by James Lindsay, Rap Snacks helped pioneer artist-driven branding long before celebrity collaborations became mainstream. Today, the company stands as the most distributed Black-owned snack brand in the United States while continuing to expand globally into markets such as Canada, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
BlockWork TV, founded in Brooklyn by Taqone Jerido, has earned recognition as one of the leading platforms for unsigned hip hop talent. Known for helping spotlight rising artists before they break into the mainstream, BlockWork TV now combines its artist development platform with Rap Snacks’ national distribution power and branding infrastructure.
“We built Rap Snacks by betting on hip hop before anybody else would. Now we’re betting on the next generation. Somebody on this tour is going home with their own chip bag, and that’s just the start of what we’re building with BlockWork TV,” says James Lindsay, Founder and CEO of Rap Snacks.
For Jerido, the collaboration creates a larger pathway for artists looking to grow beyond music alone.
“This is about taking what we built in Brooklyn and scaling it the right way. The goal has always been to give artists a real platform, and now we’re able to connect that to something bigger that helps them grow beyond just the music,” says Taqone Jerido, CEO and Founder of BlockWork TV.
In addition to the national exposure, each city winner will receive a customized brand kit built around their image and story, promotional support across BlockWork TV platforms, and QR code integration designed to connect listeners directly to their music and content.
“This partnership just makes sense. James built something that lives at the intersection of culture and product, and that kind of brand understanding is exactly where artists need to be thinking. This is about helping them move with intention, stay consistent, and really build something that lasts,” says Tiffany Wright, Manager of BlockWork TV.
Selected participants will receive confirmation details including shoot locations, production schedules, and content expectations once each city roster is finalized.
For submissions, competition inquiries, and additional information, contact: [email protected]
TOUR DATES
- Fri 5/22 & Sat 5/23 – Atlanta, GA
- Fri 6/6 & Sat 6/7 – Philadelphia, PA
- Fri 6/20 & Sat 6/21 – New York, NY
- Fri 7/11 & Sat 7/12 – Detroit, MI
- Fri 7/25 & Sat 7/26 – Chicago, IL
- Fri 8/8 & Sat 8/9 – Miami, FL