Watch: Timothy Welbeck Tiny Desk-Style performance

Each year, Bob Boilen of NPR‘s All Songs Considered sponsors a Tiny Desk contest for independent artists to appear on the fabled NPR show. The show, which places performers at Boilen’s desk in NPR offices (hence the name “Tiny Desk”), has featured performers like Common, John Legend, Robert Glasper, Anthony Hamilton, Anderson.Paak, Rapsody, Oddisee, T Pain (sans auto tune) and a host of others. The Tiny Desk contest draws thousands of submissions, because the winner of the Tiny Desk concert will join the ranks of those celebrated names. University professor, attorney, and emcee, Timothy Welbeck has decided to enter, and teamed with Hype Fresh to film a Tiny-desk style performance at Temple University (where he teaches Hip-Hop and Black Culture and “No City for Young Men: Hip-Hop and the Narrative of Marginalization”). You may find his performance below:

For those unfamiliar, Timothy Welbeck is an attorney, university professor, hip-hop artist, and contributing writer who has crafted a stirring brand of music that is thought-provoking and relevant, honest and life-changing. His work as an attorney and scholar has allowed him to contribute to various media outlets, such as the BBC Radio 4, The Philadelphia Inquirer, NPR, The Huffington Post, The International Business Times, 900 WURD AM, et al, and present at universities nationally and internationally. He also blogs for The Huffington Post, in addition to several online and print publications (i.e. Hype Fresh Magazine, Respect Magazine, et al) that offer editorials, reviews and analysis of hip-hop culture. As a hip-hop artist, he has released two full length recordings, to critical acclaim, shared the stage with national and international acts (Janelle Monet, Jidenna, EPMD, Dead Prez, Canton Jones, Immortal Technique, et al), won songwriting contests (Session 1 Grand Prize in 2010 John Lennon Songwriting Contest), garnered high compliments from hip-hop legends, industry tastemakers (Mtv Correspondent Sway) and record executives (VP of A&R at Def Jam, Lenny S). You can see his submission from last year below.