ROTC young gun drops the “New Bay” video. Dude has been paying dues on a regular basis; buy a snapback off of him when you run into him and support the grind.
Watzreal drops the “New Bay” Video
Kensho Kuma
ROTC x HH4C First Annual “Hip Hop Toy Drive”
Not all children receive toys during the holiday season. We can do our part in changing this. On December 21st, 2014, ROTC will be teaming up with Hip Hop for Change, to host our first annual “Hip Hop Holiday Toy Drive.” Hip Hop for Change is a non-profit organization dedicated to combating the detrimental messages of corporate Rap music and social injustice, through educational outreach, grassroots activism, and real Hip Hop showcases. All collected toys will be donated to City Team at their San Francisco and Oakland locations; the toys will be then distributed to children living in low-income communities. Our culture is for the people, by the people. Let’s bring some toys for kids in the hood.
ROTC- Every Sunday Night @ the Boom Boom Room
ROTC (Return of the Cypher) is a freestyle jam session which occurs every Sunday night @ the Boom Boom Room in San Francisco. The Gem Stone band provides live instrumentation and veteran DJ Kevvy Kev holds down the ones and twos. Special featured guests rock almost every week. Myself, Orukusaki, Slice 9, and MC Mars usually alternate as hosts. All MC’s and vocalists are encouraged to attend and participate in the cyphers, which probably takes up more than 2 and a half hours of each Sunday night. Oh, and it’s absolutely free!
If you are an emcee, you have to be willing to freestyle… period… it’s just part of the craft. And this is the perfect boot camp/ church/ gym/ whatever you want it to be!
Infinite “Double Beatdown” Video
Infinite is a seasoned veteran of the Bay Area Hip Hop scene; when I was finishing up my undergraduate degree at SFSU in the early 2000’s, him and Wonway were widely recognized for being unfuckwitable in the local battle/ open-mic circuit. The “Double Beatdown” concept refers to his dual mastery of MCing and beatboxing. It was shot at the Return of the Cypher event at the Boom Boom Room, and features a brief cameo of basically everyone, including your truly.
Breathless “Go Crazy” Video
Breathless is a comrade of mine who routinely rocks with us at “Return of the Cypher.” I have always been thoroughly impressed with her live performance (she dressed up as Michael Jackson one time and merked it,) and her radiant personality shines through on the brand new “Go Crazy” video. It features cameos from ROTC soldiers MC Mars, Jay Peezy, and yours truly. Make-up/ costume designs by Sara Stylism and directed by Beto Moon Cricket Lopez.
2FS Live @Allattractive x OMF Daytime Party 09/27/14
2FS (Orukusaki x Kensho Kuma) will be performing live at the Allattractive x OMF daytime party at the Legionnaire on 09/27/14. Allattractive is an awesome independent clothing brand masterminded by the homie Allcreative; his gear is regularly rocked by heads that actually are active in the scene.. I believe this is evident of his label supporting the artists putting in work and vice versa. Oakland Music Festival is celebrating its second year in the Uptown District of Downtown Oakland. It’s a multi-genre, indoor/ outdoor festival and they are partnering up with local venues to host additional showcases. My crew will be @the Legionnaire showcase. The main line-up available here, and features the comrades Latin Soul Brothers and Kool Kyle.
ROTC Halloween Costume MC Battle
My weekly event that I help organize, “Return of the Cypher” is hosting its first annual Halloween Costume MC Battle. All MC’s must have a costume, and must rap as their character. My crew member Orukusaki is the host and the crowd is the judge. My cousin 510 Japanda Thug will take part, so please come help save the pandas.
Kensho Kuma Opening for MC Jin
Alright, who remembers MC Jin? The Chinese American rapper who shocked the nation by guillotining all opponents on the 106 and Park “Freestyle Friday” competitions in the early 2000’s? He would go on to become the first Asian American rapper signed to a major label when he got down with the Ruff Ryders label; his debut album “Rest is History” gained mediocre commercial success with the single “Learn Chinese.” Jin suffered highly publicized battle rap losses to Serius Jones and Iron Solomon in the post- Ruff Ryders, moved to Hong Kong and became a born again Christian, became a highly successful Asian musical act, and moved back to the states in 2012.
Yours truly will be opening for MC Jin in Oakland on 09/19/2014 at Club Zoe in Oakland.
Kensho Kuma Rocks the Beatlounge
Your truly will be rocking @the Beatlounge in Bangkok on 09/06. The venue is located among the trendy mega-clubs pumping out EDA tunes along the RCA district. The Beatlounge is like a Hip Hop rebel base which will make any true head feel right at home. Veteran DJ Spydamonkee and the Paranormal DJ’s will be in the building.
Kensho Kuma Rocks Bangkok
Yours truly is rocking the Jam Bar in Bangkok on September 4th, 2014 with an all star line-up of Thai- Japanese Hip Hop acts. Legendary SFC/ BKK DJ Spydamonkee will be in the house; he is arguably the most respected turntablist in Thailand and also runs the Beat Lounge Hip Hop rebel base in Bangkok. Mek Piisua is a Japanese MC residing in Thailand and also runs an awesome Japanese curry shop in the Thania district of Bangkok. Spydamonkee’s Paranormal DJ crew and Protozoa will also be in the building.
I will get back to Bangkok next Monday and look forward to a guerilla promotion campaign.
