I began my documentary project on Toronto's hip-hop community, culture, and history, Project T-Dot, in December 2006, nearly 16 years ago, so it is very serendipitous that the Manifesto Festival is about the same age as a project that would not have come to fruition without the inspiration and support of Manifesto Community Projects. Documenting Manifesto for 16 years has been an incredible journey. With that said, because a few festivals in Toronto this summer failed their patrons in various ways, and due to other factors, many ticketholders for the 16th annual Manifesto Festival were concerned that it would not live up to their expectations. Many assumed that it would be a complete disaster. Fortunately, for most ticketholders, the opposite was true, last week's festival was a major success and a by-product of the community, values, ingenuity, and goals that have defined Manifesto for years. After years of attending panels and workshops through Manifesto, it was an honor for me to be featured on Day 2 of The Summit via Manifesto 16, specifically through a keynote conversation between myself and my longtime friend and colleague Neil Donaldson, aka Logikal Ethix, entitled Behind The Lens. Through Behind The Lens, Neil asked me many insightful questions. I spoke about my solo Project T-Dot photography exhibit at Toronto's City Hall, which is available until Monday, September 5, 2022, Project T-Dot as a whole, the nuances of becoming a professional artist, the importance of introspection and becoming in tune with one's unique sensibilities, life experiences, and interests, in addition to other important topics like personal development, the cultivation of mental health, mindfulness, and grit. I answered questions for nearly an hour and a half after my keynote conversation. I learned a lot about myself, the fascinating people I met during Behind The Lens, the value Manifesto has brought to the world, and more through the process. I am grateful for Manifesto's Co-Founders, Che Kothari and Ryan Paterson, Manifesto's Managing Director Tinesha Richards, and everyone else involved since Manifesto's inception. Thank you. #art #hiphop #toronto