OKLAHOMA — In crowded studios, movie theaters, and high school stages, beats shake the walls and rhymes cut like the truth. Oklahoma nonprofit SoulBody Cyphers is using Hip-Hop to save futures and promote mental health.
Now, the organization is gearing up for its next major event: Clash for the Crown at Tulsa’s historic Circle Cinema on Saturday, May 4 at 6:30 p.m. The competition will bring together the region’s top lyricists to battle for the title, while also shining a spotlight on mental health and Black resilience through art.
SoulBody Cyphers was founded by former Oklahoma State University basketball player Marshall Moses. As a musician himself, he is now leading a movement to break the silence around mental health in Black communities. Through rap battles, youth workshops and live events, the nonprofit is changing how Oklahoma talks — and thinks — about mental health.
Hip-Hop in classrooms and group homes
For Moses, who played professional basketball overseas before the pandemic ended his athletic career, the mission is personal.
SoulBody Cyphers has become a lifeline for young people across Oklahoma City and Tulsa. In the three years since its founding, the nonprofit has offered free programming in high schools. They also run a regular Hip-Hop therapy initiative at the Tulsa Boys’ Home. These programs use beat-making and songwriting to help youth process trauma and envision better futures for themselves.
Healing through the music
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, only 39% of Black Americans received mental health services in 2021, compared to 52% of non-Hispanic white Americans. Moses and his team believe culturally relevant approaches like Hip-Hop are key to closing that gap.
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At the heart of SoulBody Cyphers’ work are community events like Battle Royale at 405 Nation Headquarters in Oklahoma City, where MCs sharpened their skills and tackled real-world issues — from police violence to mental health — on the mic. Artists like Original Flow and Creo Cash delivered powerful performances rooted in lived experience, earning scores from a panel of Hip-Hop judges and cheers from the crowd.
With each story shared, SoulBody Cyphers proves that Hip-Hop isn’t just about music — it’s about survival, healing, and a future where Black youth no longer have to suffer in silence.
Tickets for Clash for the Crown are on sale now at circlecinema.org.
