R&B + Spoken Word Night is August 8th on the 100 Block of State Street (Madison, WI) from 8PM – 11PM!
Hosted by Cupcake featuring Cookie & Co., Isaiah Oby, Keena Stay Flyy Atkinson, Deep Thought The Lyricist, Lature and DJ Dee Franko.
Vendors: MosesSista LLC, Ancestral Tribe Custom Apparel, Unique Hair Accessories & More
Visual Artists: Jessica M. Guiterrez, Roots
Cookie & Co.
Musician
Cookie & Company is an R&B and Soul band known for their smooth, soulful melodies and infectious rhythms. Formed in 2024, the group blends classic R&B and Soul influences with contemporary sounds, creating a signature style that’s both timeless and fresh. With powerful vocals, and a tight rhythm section, Cookie & Company delivers music that speaks to the heart, blending love, life, and the complexities of human emotions into every song.
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Isaiah Oby
Musician
Based in Madison, Wisconsin, Isaiah Oby is a versatile music artist, composer, and speaker known for his unique ability to blend and innovate across genres. His specialties include hip-hop, folk, soul, indi-pop, gospel, lofi, and ambient music. Driven by his passion for helping artists express their full selves, Isaiah is dedicated to fostering deep, long-term relationships with his collaborators. With a focus on individualized care and attention, Isaiah’s “Projects Only” approach to collaboration enables him to bring out the best in artists. His versatility across various genres and instruments makes him a valuable asset to any creative project.
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DJ Dee Franko
DJ
DJ Dee Franko has made quite a name for herself as a well known DJ in southern Wisconsin. If you’ve been to any Hip-Hop concerts or parties, more than likely you’ve heard her DJ! The way she controls the crowd has caught the eyes of artists who tour the world such as Vonoff1700, Mello Buckzz, Diamond, Niveah, Lakeyah, Pleasure P, Chicken P, 600 Breezy, Queen Key and Felly just to name a few.
Focusing on R&B, Hip-Hop and Pop, Franko engages her audience with witty jokes and letting the music control the experience. All in all, it’s always positive feedback and Franko’s DJ sets are always met with positivity and a time to remember!
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Keena Stay Flyy Atkinson
Poet
Keena Atkinson is the founder and CEO of R’oujie Wellness, a multifaceted wellness professional, movement instructor, and trauma-informed social justice yoga teacher with an Ayurvedic approach. A nutritionist, speaker, and advocate, she holds a degree in Psychology from UW–Madison and brings lived experience as a teen mom, foster youth, and domestic violence survivor to her empowering work.
Keena hosts the R’oujie Wellness Retreat™, a monthly book club, Action Academy Coaching for Entrepreneurs™, and Money Meet Monday™, a wealth-building mentorship space for Black single mothers in business. She also leads a powerful life transformation program for women who are survivors of domestic violence.
A multifamily property owner, Keena provides safe housing for over a dozen people in Dane County and partners with organizations to support community wellness, prevention, and liberation. Named a 2024 YWCA Woman of Distinction, Keena is a poet, podcaster (“R’oujie Ruminations and Revelations” + “Good Bad Breakthru”), and creator of 80+ free on demand yoga classes on YouTube (@keenasfa).
Her work centers emotional well-being, women’s hormonal health, personal development, and accessible nutrition, guided by a deep passion for healing, literacy, and liberation from the inside out. Learn more at roujiewellness.com or on social media @keenasfa.
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Deep Thought The Lyricist
Poet
Known on his social media as Deep Thought The Lyricist, Arsenio has a popular following for his work. He is the 2-time Floetry Poetry Sensual Slam Champion, Purple Poetry Slam and Improv Poetry “24 Hour Prompt” Slam Finalist. He has also won The 2024 Golden Poet Awards for ‘Poetic Excellence’, the ‘Resilience’ Award and The 2024 Social Media Breakfast ‘Rising Star’ Award. Arsenio is also a proud host of Sensational Saturday and member of the illbejacy poetry club! Arsenio has been featured on stages and led workshops virtually and in-person all across the U.S. and in Canada!
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Lature
Poet
Born in Madison, raised in New York, and called back by purpose—Lature Elizabeth, is a poet, mother, and movement-maker whose voice is both homegrown and far-reaching. Her work blends street truth with sacred softness, telling stories of survival, rebirth, and the long walk toward justice. Every poem she performs is a sermon stitched in rhythm—raw, radiant, and real.
Lorien is the co-founder of Power Circle Network Academy (PCNA), an education and empowerment platform, and the visionary behind The Big Homie Project, a transformative program for youth rooted in emotional awareness and mentorship. From mic to movement, her message is clear: love is power—and power belongs to us.
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MosesSista LLC
Vendor
MosesSista LLC is a small, black-owned family business based in Oregon, Wisconsin, but with origins from Jamaica. Rooted in the Jamaican culture, a lot of our jewelry designs have an island flare and depicts vibrant colors and accents. Our tag line represents our brand – Naturaly made…uniquely you. We specialize in beaded and colorful resin earrings. All earrings are handmade with care. We also make our own body care products. From head to sole, scalp care, facial care to foot care. All products are made organically with USDA certified organic ingredients.
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Unique Hair Accessories & More
Vendor
Unique Hair Accessories & More specialize in Homemade Natural Hair and Body Care Products, which include: hand sewn bonnets in assorted sizes, specialty bonnet wash, scrunchies, assorted combs and brushes, hair claws and clips, all-natural oils for the hair and body, hair and body mists, lotions, shaving creams, body wash, bar soaps and more.
Unique Hair Accessories & More aims to make natural hair and body products that actually work readily available at affordable prices.
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Jessica M. Gutierrez
Visual Artist
Jessica M. Gutiérrez is a self-taught Nicaraguan-American Watercolor and Mixed Media Artist residing in Madison, WI. Jessica’s work is enchanting, magical and vibrant. Her bold use of color, intuitive linework and flower-adorned subjects, creates an energetic, emotional and authentic composition. Jessica tells visual stories of her healing journey and utilizes the creative process as a deeply personal healing practice. She is captivated by the pain and beauty that comes with the human experience, the wonder of creation in all of its manifestations, the importance of our ancestral stories and the resilience of the human spirit.
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Roots
Visual Artist
Tuwilê Roots is an Afro-Latin Brazilian artist who employs stencil techniques as a language to engage with the Black geographies he experiences. In his works, one can observe how landscape and corporality intertwine with a unique aesthetic concerned with Afro-diasporic discussions and the revision of visualities.
Drawing inspiration from Afro-Brazilian culture and the Brazilian Black movement, the artist illuminates his works with forms and colors that seek to present his experiences and sensible possibilities with places and temporalities that cross his trajectory and dialogue with what he defines as Roots.
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For The Culture Night is August 15th on the 100 Block of State Street (Madison, WI) from 8PM – 11PM!
Hosted by The Laugh Master featuring Chairman Allen, Bliz Gee, G Stylez, JEXIZIS, Mane, Lil Nija and DJ G Money.
Vendors: Queen P’s Throne, Zuri’s Furry Friends, Not Your Average
Visual Artists: B.Denae Artistry
Bliz Gee
Musician
Bliz Gee is a rapper from Madison, WI. Bliz got his start by appearing on multiple mixtapes in 2005, 06 and 09. Bliz released singles “When It Rains” Feat. Psyde FX of Psychodrama (Nov. 2012) and “Say Wut” (June 2013). After gaining early momentum Bliz’s career was put on hold due to uncontrollable circumstances. He has worked with national artists like: Psychodrama, The Snypaz, Chicago Dbo, Chef Boy Ching, D. Star, Original Breeze, Bo Beezy and many more. Bliz’s latest single W.A.R. (Building 7) Feat. Bobby Kennedy is currently available on all platforms.
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JEXIZIS
Musician
Jexizis is a 19 year old artist from Madison, Wisconsin. He started rapping in 6th grade when his math teacher disrespected him and Jexizis responded with a diss track against the school. Jex has came a long way since then landing a hip hop and urban arts full tuition scholarship to UW Madison, Leading a Madison based rap collective, selling out shows, and becoming a Major player of a growing alternative rap scene in Madison. Jexizis is also the youth poet laureate of Madison and frequently performs under the title “Justin Festge Russell.” Jex has also opened with music stars such as Bone Thugs N Harmony , DAVE EAST, AND has even received a co-sign from PESO PESO.
This is JEXIZIS—An Anti hero mind with a heart of gold.
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Mane
Musician
Mane Thompson is a Country/Soul singer, from DeForest, Wisconsin, locally based in Wisconsin. Mane is a 13 year old coming in at 6’2, and is a multiple sport athlete.
Mane has been in a news article for the Wisconsin State Journal, made community papers, and has won multiple leadership awards.
Mane first started singing at a young age around 6 when he started performing Michael Jackson, Mane no longer walks around in a shiny white glove, with a fedora hat or Penny loafers. Mane went back to his roots, so you’ll now most likely see Mane in a pair of boots, jeans, and a cowboy hat.
Lil Nija
Musician
Lil Nija returns for their second Mad Lit performance! Lil Nija is a youth Hip-Hop artist in Madison, Wisconsin. You won’t want to miss their set!
DJ G Money
DJ
Governor House aka DJ G-Money is a hard working entrepreneur who is a professional, local and traveling DJ from Madison, Wisconsin. G-Money has been DJing since 2016 after growing interest as a teen from watching local DJs in the community and also coincidentally actors Martin Lawrence who played a DJ in the movie House Party and Jamie Foxx who also played a DJ in the movie Players Club!
In 2016 G-Money learned to DJ by taking notes from local DJs, and watching tutorials on YouTube. DJ G-Money is a father of four children who are his motivation to strive for greatness as a DJ! Not only his kids but his whole families love and support is what keeps him going and motivated!
DJ G-Money is a versatile DJ who has experience with private events, public events, concerts, weddings, festivals, sporting and school events and has played for just about every age from 1-100. He takes pride in being able to read crowds and play relatable music! Known as one of Madison’s favorite DJs, DJ G-Money has also been booked to DJ in Texas, Georgia, Nevada, Illinois, and Minnesota.
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The Laugh Master
Host
Get ready to enjoy For The Culture Night with Madison, Wisconsin’s Laugh Master!
Queen P's Throne
Vendor
Queen P’s Throne specializes in handcrafted, customizable wood and acrylic items, from stunning earrings to unique signs. Queen P’s mission is to empower women, especially Black women, with quality products that inspire self-expression and confidence.
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B.Denae Artistry
Visual Artist
Madison, WI native, Brooklyn Doby is a visual artist, muralist, and entrepreneur.
She is passionate about creating art that represents women of color and highlights African American beauty. Her work reflects her love for acrylic paint and abstract portraiture. She creates and sells original paintings that also become unique images for home decor, daily wearable items, drink carriers, stickers and more. At B.Denae Artistry, you’ll discover artwork that uplifts you.
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TruStage has become the latest sponsor of the 2025 Mad Lit Event Series!
Latin Night hosted by Megan Diaz-Ricks featuring La Combi, Rey Cruz and DJ Chamo.
Vendors: Muskuy C&E, Artesanias Nuestra Cultura, Creations for Deities
Visual Artists: Angelica Contreras, Kimberly Giselle, Rodrigo Carapia Art
DJ Night hosted by Cooper Talbot featuring DJ Andre, DJ Ree Maniac, DJ Lyriks and DJ Shauty.
Vendors: Oh-She-Cute, Ivy Up Creations, DéAdore Collections, Boogie’s Backyard Barbecue
Visual Artists: LivingOutUnrealDreams, Poisoned Huny, Dripsphere
Games: Spades with Eubanks Solutions
R&B + Spoken Word Night hosted by Cupcake featuring Cookie & Co., Isaiah Oby, Keena Stay Flyy Atkinson, Deep Thought The Lyricist, Lature and DJ Dee Franko.
Vendors: MosesSista LLC, Ancestral Tribe Custom Apparel, Unique Hair Accessories & More
Visual Artists: Jessica M. Guiterrez, Roots
For The Culture Night hosted by The Laugh Master featuring Chairman Allen, Bliz Gee, G Stylez, JEXIZIS, Mane, Lil Nija and DJ G Money.
Vendors: Queen P’s Throne, Zuri’s Furry Friends, Not Your Average
Visual Artists: B.Denae Artistry
DJ Night #2 hosted by Mark “ShaH” Evans featuring TreatYoSelf, DJ PAIN 1 and special guests!
Vendors: Crash Box Therapy, Wild Wind Organix
Visual Artists: Dani RAD
By donating today, you’re not just supporting a single event—you’re strengthening the foundation of a more inclusive arts and culture experience in Madison.
Mad Lit
2025 Mad Lit Interest Forms are currently open!
Are you interested in participating in Mad Lit as a vendor, visual artist or volunteer? If so, fill out our form to let us know!
The 2024 Mad Lit Impact Report is here!
Thank you sponsors, musicians, visual artists, vendors, crew and staff for making the fourth annual Mad Lit Event Series possible!
Download and share our 2024 Mad Lit Impact Report with your colleagues or view the equity-first research that guides our work.
2024 Sponsors
