No one could explain IMPACT ’17. But people showed up for DJ Khaled.
Leaning against a black curtain, the painting depicts three bikini-clad women posing around Uncle Luke, instead of the six originally on the iconic album cover. A thought bubble floats in the top corner, shouting, “I wanna rock!”
“I tried to keep it PG-13,” said the painter, Broward-based Galen Todd. “Hopefully the wife is okay with it.”
Todd was one of many artists hoping for a break at IMPACT ’17 – a one of a kind blend of conference and concert held at the Watsco Center on June 29. The event was headlined by local legend DJ Khaled and sprinkled in other Miami celebrities like Snapchat queen YesJulz and talent casting icon Ellen Jacoby.
Confused? Same. No one knew what to expect from DJ Khaled’s IMPACT 17, including Todd.
“I signed up for Impact very early in a faith-based move and was glad when more and more hype surrounded it,” he said. “To be able to show my art side by side with these artists – it’s special. There’s something about being able to come together in one place like this.”
His passion for hip hop portraits fit right it in with the crowd of over 700 hoping to break into the industry. In between panels designed to teach regular people how to get famous, there were performances and pop-up stations featuring brands like boom box-maker Curious Provisions and clothing line Dungeon Forward.
The conference kicked off at noon and didn’t end until 1 a.m. when DJ Khaled was done blessing the crowd.
He ran onstage to the anthem “All I Do Is Win.” And what does he do first? Brag about his executive producer – his son, Asahd Khaled.
“I am the father of Asahd Khaled and when you see me just know I’m doing everything for him,” he told the crowd.
If the night couldn’t get any wilder, one brave fan made it on stage with a huge canvas wrapped in brown paper. DJ Khaled opened the gift to reveal a portrait of the mega star and his son, who is also on the cover of his latest album.
“Yes boy! Yes boy! Yes boy!” DJ Khaled shouted, thankful for the gift.
He would have been the only draw for IMPACT ’17, until Da’vid Abellard, one of the creators, saw the opportunity to do something innovative. Originally, IMPACT was supposed to be a Black Friday music festival, but DJ Khaled had a scheduling conflict, Abellard said. That gave him and others involved, such as Abebe Lewis of Circle House studios and brand consultant Suki Jaafar, a chance to make IMPACT into an educational experience and networking opportunity.
“Something from the universe was saying, ‘Add this other component,’” he said. “There’s a lot of great festivals in Florida, but we wanted to shake things up.”
DJ Khaled’s busy schedule gave them time to turn the concert into something even bigger, he said. It was the perfect opportunity to “bless up” the people.
“The response I got from strangers – they left with value. The insight and education that they received from the panelists benefited them. I love how I was somehow able to contribute a small spark to someone in their whole life time,” he said.
And next year? IMPACT ’17 will be back, Abellard said. The music summit vibe is here to stay.
Or, as DJ Khaled would say, “Another one.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Panelists at IMPACT ’17
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Panelists take time answering questions at the "State of Entrepreneurship panel" during the IMPACT '17 Conference, a one-day annual event centered around music, technology, fashion and art, at the University of Miami Watsco Center in Coral Gables on Thursday June 29, 2017. PEDRO PORTAL pportal@miamiherald.com -
Ivan Parron (second from left), an entertainment attorney speaks at the "State of Entrepreneurship panel" during the IMPACT '17 Conference, a one-day annual event centered around music, technology, fashion and art, at the University of Miami Watsco Center in Coral Gables on Thursday June 29, 2017. PEDRO PORTAL pportal@miamiherald.com -
Panelists take time answering questions at the "State of Entrepreneurship panel" during the IMPACT '17 Conference, a one-day annual event centered around music, technology, fashion and art, at the University of Miami Watsco Center in Coral Gables on Thursday June 29, 2017. PEDRO PORTAL pportal@miamiherald.com -
Miami's own DJ LAZ (fourth from left), speaks at the "Evolution of Radio and Digital Media panel" during the IMPACT '17 Conference, a one-day annual event centered around music, technology, fashion and art, at the University of Miami Watsco Center in Coral Gables on Thursday June 29, 2017. PEDRO PORTAL pportal@miamiherald.com -
Ted Cohen (second from left), digital entertainment industry executive, speaks at the "Evolution of Radio and Digital Media panel" during the IMPACT '17 Conference, a one-day annual event centered around music, technology, fashion and art, at the University of Miami Watsco Center in Coral Gables on Thursday June 29, 2017. PEDRO PORTAL pportal@miamiherald.com -
Miami's own DJ LAZ, gets ready to speak at the "Evolution of Radio and Digital Media panel" during the IMPACT '17 Conference, a one-day annual event centered around music, technology, fashion and art, at the University of Miami Watsco Center in Coral Gables on Thursday June 29, 2017. PEDRO PORTAL pportal@miamiherald.com -
Artist Juan Disemo, of Broward, performs during the IMPACT '17 Conference, a one-day annual event centered around music, technology, fashion and art, at the University of Miami Watsco Center in Coral Gables on Thursday June 29, 2017. PEDRO PORTAL pportal@miamiherald.com -
Attendees during a round of panels at the IMPACT '17 Conference, a one-day annual event centered around music, technology, fashion and art, at the University of Miami Watsco Center in Coral Gables on Thursday June 29, 2017. PEDRO PORTAL pportal@miamiherald.com -
Daniel Dennehy, a professional soccer player as he is introduced at the "Evolution of Radio and Digital Media panel" during the IMPACT '17 Conference, a one-day annual event centered around music, technology, fashion and art, at the University of Miami Watsco Center in Coral Gables on Thursday June 29, 2017. PEDRO PORTAL pportal@miamiherald.com
This story was originally published July 5, 2017 at 12:07 AM with the headline "No one could explain IMPACT ’17. But people showed up for DJ Khaled.."