The Metro: Does the Motor City need a new slogan?

WDET’s own Ryan Patrick Hooper and Waajeed, along with other cultural commentators and creators in the city, joined the show to discuss how to better market Detroit to the world.

Detroit skyline

FILE - Downtown Detroit skyline.

The city of Detroit is overflowing with cultural riches — from Motown to techno, street art to Detroit jit, the city has no shortage of shiny cultural exports.

So why hasn’t the rest of the country caught on to this? Today on The Metro, we speak with some of the city’s cultural pioneers and commentators — including WDET’s own Ryan Patrick Hooper and Waajeed — about how Detroit can better market itself to the world. 

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Detroit has transformed immensely over the past few decades. Today, it boasts stunning parks, a vibrant riverfront, world-class museums and an ever-growing cultural scene.

It has always been a city of innovation and reinvention, grit and hustle, fueled by those who have stayed, fought and built a community that is as diverse as it is resilient. It is a place where kindness and determination coexist, and where respect is earned through action.

Hooper, host of WDET’s five day a week music program In The Groove, shared how — when visiting cities like Nashville and Austin — he couldn’t help but compare them to Detroit.

“It was hard for me to go to those places, being a Detroiter, being like, ‘wait a minute, we’re the greatest music city on the planet,’” Hooper said. “But unfortunately, I think on so many different levels, from City Hall to educating our own citizens, sometimes we don’t even know what we make here, what is created here. It’s not broadcast — except here on WDET of course.”

Waajeed, acclaimed music producer, DJ and host of WDET’s The Boulevard agreed, adding that improved communication between artists and cultural or municipal leaders in the city could help to amplify awareness around its rich cultural accomplishments.

“There’s not enough of a conversation that’s happening between the creatives and the folks that are immediately connected to the arts and culture, conversations with the folks that are downtown, that can provide a better opportunity for this to be known — not just amongst the world — but amongst us Detroiters,” he said.

Imani Mixon, a journalist, screenwriter and founder of Mixon Media, also joined the show. She has written extensively about Detroit and Detroiters, including Aretha Franklin, Aaliyah, and the creators of techno. The role of marketing and telling Detroit’s stories is often left to the people that call Detroit home. 

“I also think we need to be realistic about the powers that be and like what their goals are, and realize that it has to be some actual structural changes in order for Detroit to be a fully realized place, that not only attracts but also retains talent,” Mixon said. 

Detroit cinematographer Stephen McGee, who’s working on a documentary about Detroit called “Resurgo,” added that the creative talent here is going to keep finding inspiration and championing the city. 

“Detroit has a massive bank of creative capital here. I mean people, especially the stories for Detroiters for the past 40 to 60 years,” McGee said. “I mean, there’s so much untapped, you know, beautiful moments, kind of like Imani was talking about, that I think need to come at the highest level.”

We also asked our listeners:

“What’s your slogan for Detroit?”

Sabrina Nelson from Detroit said: “My slogan would be ‘Heart, hands, head’ or you know ‘Work hard, play hard, create hard.’”

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation, and other stories from “The Metro.”

More stories from The Metro on Jan. 16, 2025:

  • Stacie Clayton, director of community affairs at Wayne State University, joined the show to highlight the university’s 25th annual Tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. taking place on Friday in celebration of Dr. King’s life and legacy. 
  • After several weeks of painstaking negotiations, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal to pause the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, multiple officials announced Wednesday. Amer Zahr,  a local attorney, comedian and pro-Palestinian activist, joined the show to share his reaction to the ceasefire and what it means for the Palestinian community. 
  • Justice Oshiyoye is the founder of DUHTROIT magazine. He and his team of creatives started the magazine last year to provide an avenue to express his creativity and support the work of other artists across the region. He joined The Metro to discuss the work and some of the other reasons he decided to create this project.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

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