Intalek and Friends: Hip-Hop & Art

Intalek and Friends: Live Perfomance

Event Date and Time: Saturday, October 17, 2026, 5:00pm-7:00pm

Doors Open: 4:30pm

Intalek & Friends is an after-hours arts event pairing live hip-hop with the artwork on view at The Suffolk Center.

Intalek takes the Birdsong Theater stage with Illien Rosewell and Respect the Gods. Local artist vendors will be set up throughout the event, and the galleries will remain open throughout the evening.

A Short Story by Intalek will be on view, pairing Short Story’s mixed-media artwork with an original rap EP by Intalek. Scan the artwork with your phone to hear the tracks connected to each piece as you move through the exhibition. The Reflecting Gallery will also showcase work by local artists Jazzmyn Ellis, Mara-Lynn Addison, Savannah Kerrick, Ladré Imon Daniels, and Justin White, offering an even broader look at art being made across Hampton Roads.

No prior knowledge of the artists or exhibition is needed. Explore the galleries, shop work from local artists, then catch the live performance in the theater.

Intalek & Friends offers a different way to experience The Suffolk Center while getting a closer look at artists working across Hampton Roads.

Intalek

Intalek is a Virginia Beach-based hip-hop artist, songwriter, and creative entrepreneur whose work blends lyricism, storytelling, and cultural exploration. Performing since 2006, he has shared stages and toured with legendary artists including Wu-Tang Clan, Busta Rhymes, KRS-One, Mos Def, and Mobb Deep. His catalog includes the 2021 album Theodore and the 2022 single “Vices,” while his creative practice has continued to expand beyond music into visual art, technology, and immersive storytelling. Through projects such as A Short Story by Intalek, he explores identity, memory, community, and the relationship between sound and visual expression. Intalek is active in the Recording Academy – DC Chapter voting member, Generation MOCA advisory member in Virginia Beach, and NEON Nights advisory member in Norfolk.

Illien Rosewell 

Illien Rosewell is a Norfolk-based hip-hop artist, producer, engineer, and curator whose work bridges lyricism, soulful production, and the tradition of sample-driven hip-hop. His production credits include work with Big Boi, Sleepy Brown, ETO, Flee Lord, Grafh, Benny the Butcher, and others, establishing him as a versatile creative voice with roots in Virginia’s independent music community. Rosewell is the driving force behind The CookUp x Flipabeatclub Fest held in L.A., a producer-focused event platform celebrating beat culture, collaboration, and the artists behind the sound.

Respect the Gods

Respect The Gods is an international recording artist collective known for powerful lyricism, authentic storytelling, and a global sound rooted in hip-hop culture. Their music explores faith, resilience, ambition, and lived experience, with releases including the albums "Respect It" and "Beautiful Problems," as well as the standout single “God Like,” which has earned hundreds of thousands of streams worldwide. Most recently, the group toured alongside Lew Sid expanding their reach while representing hip-hop culture on an international stage.