Black History Month

Accelerating Progress in Black Music & Tech

February 1st, 2023

Dope Candi and Jay Ellis smiling inside a Nissan car

The initiative

Nissan is proud to continue their mission to help empower the next generation of Black music creators by continuing the Electric Beats initiative. We’re extending our mission-driven initiatives beyond Black History Month to make long-standing change in music & technology for the African-American community. Stay tuned for what’s next.

Jay Ellis and Dope Candi smiling happily while seated inside a Nissan Ariya car

The impact of Black music on American culture

Jay Ellis

Jay Ellis

Jay Ellis is a passionate leader in the movement to amplify creative voices. He has helped bring stories to light which unite the African-American community and the Nissan brand. Together, we will not only further our commitment to Black music, but also elevate these important narratives to consumers worldwide.

Dope Candi

Dope Candi

DJ, Producer, Music Educator, and Nissan Electric Beats producer, Candice “Dope Candi” Boggerty is a champion of music’s power to foster community. With a dynamically melodic sound spanning Hip-Hop, R&B, and Alternative genres, her unforgettable vibes have thrilled crowds from A3C Festival to ComplexCon.

King Fresh

King Fresh

Olajuwon “King Fresh” Sims is the winner of Nissan’s Next Up Competition. King Fresh is a Benedict College (HBCU) graduated producer, songwriter, and composer who has been thrilled by music since his youth. He says music is his best form of communicating. And with acknowledgments from multi-Grammy Award winner, Just Blaze, that truth is undeniable.

The role of music in the car

Bose Premium Audio System

From listening to the radio to curating that perfect playlist for a road trip with your friends, there's no question that our cars today play a major role when it comes to music. For these audio engineers, it can also be the first time that they hear their carefully constructed tracks come to life outside of the studio.

The Bose® Premium Audio System helps give life to this first audio experience. With strategically placed speakers around the cabin, the system, available on the 2023 ARIYA and 2023 Altima, gives you crystal-clarity for every chord without distortion. Feel every emotion in high fidelity. [[233]]

Internship experience in the driver's seat

Nissan 2017 Intern Summit

Since the early 80’s Nissan has utilized a nationally recognized college internship program to identify and prepare talented students for Nissan employment. Through partnerships with minority organizations and numerous scholarship programs, Nissan aims to develop and place minority youth into the business and prepare them for corporate and community leadership.

Nissan Black History Month events & partnerships

Here are some of the initiatives where Nissan has partnered with members of the community to celebrate Black History Month.

Nissan Black History Month Events

ELECTRIC BEATS

In 2022, with the help of breakout star, Jay Ellis, and the All-New 2023 Nissan ARIYA Electric Crossover Vehicle, Nissan honored the influence of African-American musicians from the past and paid it forward to artists of today. Nissan worked with and hired talented African-American musicians, to create thrilling tracks for future projects. As a result, they received the royalties and recognition they deserved. [[3771]]

Nissan Driving the Beat

DRIVING THE BEAT

Black music is deeply woven into the soundtrack of America. Behind some of the country's biggest hits are African-American music producers who use innovation to drive music and culture today. In 2021, Nissan North America celebrated the music producers who use technology to power America's tunes on the road.

From past through to present, Nissan is committed to amplifying Black excellence in technology and innovation. Just like music in America, Nissan is always pushing the narrative with new innovation. Currently, the suite of features within Nissan Intelligent Mobility, are paving the way for future technology such as Park Assist and self parking cars.

Nissan Driving My Story

DRIVING MY STORY

In 2020, Nissan North America harnessed the power of social media to hear from black influencers across the nation about how they were driving a positive impact in their communities—using the hashtag #DiscoverMyStory.

The social media experience put users and influencers including Morgan DeBaun, Keiza M. Williams, Monique Idlett, Will Lucas and Sequoia Blodgett behind the wheel of the 2020 Sentra® using an AR Filter, symbolizing the independence of driving their own stories.

Black Girls Code

BLACK GIRLS CODE

In 2020, Nissan partnered with Black Girls Code on their mission to help empower girls up to age 17 within the STEM fields and in their communities through exposure to computer science and technology.

The organization already has trained 3,000 girls in seven chapters in cities in the United States, and has one chapter in Johannesburg, South Africa, with plans to add chapters in eight more cities.

Nissan Resume Challenge

NISSAN RESUME CHALLENGE

First established in 2014, Nissan North America's partnership with six chapters of the 100 Black Men of America organization around the country, represents a concerted effort for two days of career planning and readiness workshops. During their time, students hear from Nissan executives who talk about their professional journey while also providing career advice.

Sheila Rashid Woven Into Technology

WOVEN INTO TECHNOLOGY

In 2019, Nissan partnered with Afro-futuristic fashion designer Sheila Rashid to show how technology in the 2019 Nissan Rogue® influenced her design process.

Sheila said of the partnership, "Nissan likes to say they put the most exciting tech in your driveway, and I love that. That's what I'm doing with my designs: bringing futuristic silhouettes to the present and making them for everyone. I want this partnership with Nissan to inspire everyone to follow their passion and keep moving forward to the future."

Featured vehicles

Nissan ARIYA

Nissan ARIYA

The show-stopping and fully electric Nissan ARIYA pushes the bounds of what an EV can be. Keeping you connected is easy with this vehicle, with its visionary design, next-generation driver assistance, and breakthrough technology. It reaches beyond raising the bar, it’s here to set the standard for electric SUVs. [[1189]][[3771]]

Nissan Altima

Nissan Altima

The 2023 Altima has the tech that will change every part of your drive. With standard Safefy Shield 360 and available ProPILOT Assist, the 2023 Nissan Altima helps responds to the world around you. [[1381]][[1176]]

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