Add-2 (emcee/songwriter/poet)

2016 Arts of Humanity Humanitarian Honoree Add-2 has been striving to change the world through the power of music.  Growing up on the south side of Chicago Add-2 has used his story to captivate listeners and has emerged as a respectable voice of clarity in the Hip Hop community. Blending Hip Hop with soul, jazz and poetry Add-2 has carved a lane all of his own. He has independently built a career which has led him to be featured on EBONY, MTV, FUSE TV, XXL, SIRIUS Radio (Shade 45), shared the stage with The Roots, featured on songs with Talib Kweli, BJ The Chicago Kid and much more.

eeing the need to provide Chicago's youth with a positive outlet Add-2 created Haven Studios.

Dennis Thompson (producer/engineer)

Dennis “MPLI” Thompson is a Chicago based music producer and engineer. Raised on Chicago’s Southside, his musical education began at the age of 4 with the piano, transitioning to the violin then alto sax and finally drums though his later college years. During his undergraduate years at NIU, Dennis began to develop his production skills, working with local arts and finally focusing on producing the group he co-founded, H2O Soul. Upon graduating from NIU, he attended Columbia to pursue his Masters in Music Business.

Dennis worked in music advertising at a Chicago Production House known as Genuine Music, creating original compositions and sound design for major brands from 2006-2011. Now focused on teaching production and engineering at Haven Studio, collaborating with other artists and serving the local music community through his non profit, Khemistry, Dennis hopes to work through music to make his voice heard and make a positive difference.