Kensho Kuma

Japanese American MC representing 510 Berkeley, CA.

Kensho Kuma featured on MixtapeLive Episode II: Cali Factors

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Yours truly is featured on Xienhow‘s “MixtapeLive Episode II: Cali Factors” off of the upcoming “No Retreat, No Surrender” mixtape. The track is an interesting new concept; 5 pairs of emcees spit 8 bars over 5 different beats, the DJ blends them, and there will be a music video to accompany it. It’s literally a mixtape in a single song.. The featured emcee pairs are Zyme and Jack Tradez, XP the Marxman and Ruby Ibarra, myself and Orukusaki, and Babii Cris and XienHow, with DJ Rebelion holding down the blends.

Xien

And since I only had 8 bars, I alternate languages every 2 bars to showoff the bilingual swordz.. “Animated murderer, similar to Deadpool/ ninja with an attitude, conditioned to behead fools/ ?????????????????/????????????/ (East Bay) edition of Asiatic poetry/ guided by righteous minded fighters who are close to me/ ???????????/????????????”

 

Raps United Nations Japanese Wave Vol. 1

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Kensho Kuma’s “Exact Science ver2.0” is featured on “Raps United Nations Japanese Wave Vol.1,” presented by Billy Danze from the legendary M.O.P. squad and mixed by DJ Kuni. The mix project specifically focuses on up and coming Japanese Hip Hop artists, and I feel honored that my track was personally chosen by Billy Danze.

MOP

Kuni Track List

2nd Floor Samurais return to the Chapel, SF

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The 2nd Floor Samurais had an enormously successful show at the Chapel back in late-January; we are proud to announce that we will be returning on May 6th to the venue with genre-transcending band La Gente and the world famous J-Boogie’s Dubtronic Science team. Tickets are speculated to sell out for this one, so get them early!

Chapel May

2FS Live @ Hip Hop for Change 3 Year Anniversary Party

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03/31 Update: Venue Change!! This party is no longer at the Starlight Social Club, but at the Uptown Nightclub.

2nd Floor Samurais will be performing at Hip Hop for Change’s  3 year anniversary party on April 2nd, 2016 @ the Starlight Social Club in Oakland (645 West Grand, Oakland.)

2FS proudly serves on the board of directors for Hip Hop for Change, a non-profit dedicated to battling socioeconomic inequalities, police brutality in the urban community, and detrimental messages disseminated through corporate media outlets, through the implementations of educational outreach, grassroots canvassing, and local Hip Hop showcases.

HH4C director Khafre Jay is also an emcee of BPos and we have been planning a 2FS x BPos show for a while.. this is not to be missed..

HH4C

Kensho Kuma featured on Zyme’s “Live Forever”

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Yours truly is featured on longtime comrade Zyme‘s “Live Forever” track off of his brand new “Swish: Life of Zyme” E.P. Zyme has been on the independent Hip Hop grind since the late nineties Telegraph days, has been around the world covering similar territories as myself, has had songs played on major airwaves, and continues to hold it down through regular live performances. It’s definitely worth a listen. “Live Forever” also features Scarub of the Living Legends and frequent 2FS collaborator XienHow. Produced by my LA comrade XP the Marksman from Rhyme Addicts.

Zyme

 

“????????????????/ ??????????????/ ??????????????/ ??????????????/ ????????????/ ???????????? sands of time/ ?????????????/????????????”

D-Wiz “Me and the Wiz” EP

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My comrade/ engineer D-Wiz recently dropped the “Me and the Wiz” EP, produced entirely by Drum Dealership’s Tahaj the First. This man is probably the most chill, down to earth individual I know in the realm of Hip Hop, and his crew B-Pos has formed a strong camaraderie with 2FS and we often perform together. Please look out for a special (and silly) Kuma x Wiz collabo coming soon with accompanying video!!

D-Wiz Pic

Biz pic

Japan Rap Night 02/21/16 @the Stork Club

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2nd Floor Samurais are off to a very busy 2016.. Our 2nd official show of the year will be “Japan Rap Night” on 02/21 at the Stork Club in Oakland. Our longtime comrade Shing02 will be returning to the Bay after a prolonged absence, and he will be doing a Nujabes tribute set with Spinmaster A-1.

Jap Rap Night

1st 2FS Show of 2016

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The 1st 2FS show of 2016 is scheduled to be January 30th @the Chapel in San Francisco. Our comrade Rafael Sarria’s multi-genre band La Gente will be celebrating their album release, and the Samurais are proudly opening for them. Also, ROTC general Emcee Infinite is also on the bill.. This event is sure to sell out, so get your tickets here. Also, be sure to like the 2nd Floor Samurais artist page here.

La Gente Chapel Show

“We Vape” Video Shoot

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If we’ve met in real life, you probably noticed that I’m a dedicated vapor.. I use to be a pretty consistent cigarette smoker, and since I switched over to vaping about five years ago, my health has noticeably gotten better. Although the long term (and short term) effects of vaping are still yet to be determined, it is for sure a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes.

My comrade/ engineer D-Wiz and I will be shooting a video for “We Vape” on 12/16/16 11:00AM @Tasty Vapors (1017 22nd Ave #110, Oakland) in Oakland. We want you to vape, have fun, and possibly sing the chorus, which will be uploaded at a later point. (It’s extremely simple…)Please come dressed in fun funky fresh casual attire. This panda has nothing to do with the video.

panda weight

 

“We Vape” is a fun and educational song about vaping, and it will be available for free download soon.

Rymeezee @ROTC 01/31/16

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Rymeezee is a San Francisco MC I’ve know since the late nineties, and he was featured on my first debut cassette. It’s reassuring to witness an artist withstand the test of time, strengthen his grind, and continue developing. He is not only an emcee with an expansive catalog, but a fashion brand designer/ owner, juvenile justice case manage and a father of three boys.

Return of the Cypher will proudly have him as the featured performer on 01/31/16. Yours truly will be on hosting duties, alongside DJ Kevvy Kev, the Gem Stone Band, and all of our usual cast of dope characters.

Rymeezee ROTC

“Pyrex poetry with potency of potpourri/ I know they feel it in the big cities overseas”

02/03 Update: Event went wonderful.. it’s really refreshing to see artists we book at ROTC come through with hella people, bring their own cameraman, and then upload the performance video within few days..