2nd Floor Samurais will be performing live at the Arte y Tapas Holiday Festival on 12/20/2015. The event is at 83 Proof (83 1st St. SF 94105) and tickets are only 5$. The festival is being headlined by La Gente, a multilingual, multi-genre band led by our comrade Raphael Sarria. This is also a wonderful opportunity to check out local artisans and food vendors..
On December 6th, 2015, Return of the Cypher will be teaming up with Hip Hop for Change to bring you our 2nd annual toy drive. For those of us unfamiliar with the above terms, ROTC is a weekly Hip Hop open-mic which occurs every Sunday evening at the Boom Boom Room in San Francisco; it has arguably become SF Bay Area’s most successful regular Hip Hop event, and is frequented by local legends, a platoon of hungry MC’s from literally around the world, and weekly featured performers. HH4C is a NGO dedicated to battling socioeconomic disparities, police brutality, and cancerous corporate rap, through educational outreaches, grassroots canvassing, and local Hip Hop showcases.
Our 2nd Annual Toy Drive will be hosted by Pep Love from the legendary Hieroglyphics crew, feature a ROTC x HH4C mini-showcase, and also the December ’15 ROTC MVP competition. All collected toys will be donated to City Team, which will then distribute the gifts to youth living in impoverished conditions.
12/07/15 Update: The Toy Drive a tremendous success!! We got everything from Spiderman drums to remote controlled puppies to mini jengas!! Thank you for participating!! We made an actual difference!!
2FS comrade/ veteran emcee/ videographer XienHow will be celebrating the release of his “Process: the 7th Sign” album on November 20th, 2015 @the Elbo Room in San Francisco. It has been rumored for months now that the Valencia venue will close its doors, so this may be one of your last opportunities to enjoy a Hip Hop show there. The night will also serve as the release party for SF OG Aukwin, who will be presenting the “Aukthentic” album and will feature Z-Man as the master of ceremonials.
XienHow – “Toe Tagga” Music Video
Universal Zulu Nation member/ 2FS Produced Inkone just released the “We Spit Bars” video featuring Kenn Chron. Directed by OG graff writer Crayone and featuring cameo appearances by yours truly.
“We Spit Bars” Extended Version: Yours truly trading bars with the homies at 1:35.
“We Spit Bars” Short Version
Hip Hop for Change, a NGO dedicated to fighting socioeconomic injustice, police brutality, and the evils of corporate rap radio, through grassroots activism, educational outreach, and Hip Hop showcases, is organizing a Hip Hop Halloween party on 10/29. As you know, I proudly serve as a board member for this organization, and Halloween is the one holiday I care about, so needless to say, I will go all out.. I will be retiring the 510 Japanda Thug costume I have been developing for numerous Halloweens, and will debut something completely new. My group 2FS will be rocking with many of the usual suspects.. This party will also serve as my boy Unlearn the World’s birthday party.
My long time Tokyo road dawg/ MC David Whitaker and his awesome wife Tonya have materialized their long time dream of opening up an authentic soul food restaurant. Soul Food House opened on 09/23 in Azabu Jyuban, Tokyo. Congratulations!! I met David at an open mic he was hosting in Shibuya back in ’06, and we have rocked numerous shows together in the Tokyo metropolis. I give you my word that these guys can cook and that this is without a doubt the most authentic American soul food in Japan.
My brother Orukusaki will be celebrating his birthday at the Sky Lounge in San Mateo. We will be performing newer 2FS material from the upcoming album. Comrades Unlearn the World and Watzreal are also rocking with us, and the homie Mack Deezoe will act as the master of ceremonials.
2FS (Orukusaki x Kensho Kuma) -> Come rock with us..
Mek Piisua is a Japanese MC/ business mogul/ high class player, located in Bangkok, Thailand. The Thania location of the Woodball chain is one of my rebel bases in Bangkok; it’s a Japanese style bar with a Japanese curry restaurant underneath. Anyway, Mek recently teamed up with Japanese Hip Hop legend Yamadaman, from the pioneering group Rappagariya, and dropped the “Mai Pen Rai” video. “Mai Pen Rai” roughly translates to never mind or it’s not a big deal. The production is handled by DJ 2High, a Long Beach Japanese producer down with Snoop’s Dogg Pound. It was shot at Pattaya Beach, and let’s just say.. what happens in Pattaya, stays in Pattaya..
2FS producer Decap premiered his new single “Feeling” on Okayplayer last night; this site was started by Questlove of the legendary Roots, and has blossomed into a rich musical community supported by everyone from Talib Kweli to Dead Prez. Let’s just say that it’s a highly prestigious accolade.. one that I wish to eventually achieve myself. I initially heard “Feeling” at a Decap live set and immediately fell in love with.. I begged him to get on the instrumental, was ready to throw money at him, but he said that it was unavailable.. then I completely forgot how it sounded and heard it at his Ableton demo six month later.. fell in love with it again..
Return of the Cypher will be celebrating it’s 2 year anniversary on 06/14/15. If you don’t know by now, ROTC is the livest weekly Hip Hop party in the Bay Area; a free open-mic jam session with a resident band, weekly featured performers, and the legendary DJ Kevvy Kev. It goes down every Sunday night at the SF Boom Boom Room. Point blank, it’s your home if you were raised by this culture. We will have 15+ performers on the 2 year anniversary and my crew 2FS will be the hosts. See you there. Oh, and the Black Film Festival will be premiering a Mac Dre Documentary called “Legend in the Bay” prior to our celebration.. and that’s free too..
