Bay Area Hip Hop

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/ ???????????/????????????”

 

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

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

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..

12/20/2015 2FS Live @ Arte y Tapas Holiday Festival

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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..

Arte y Tapas Flier

 

12/06/15 ROTC x HH4C 2nd Annual Toy Drive Hosted by Pep Love

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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.

fly

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!!

Toys

Inkone “We Spit Bars” Video

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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.

Inkone Graphic

“We Spit Bars” Extended Version: Yours truly trading bars with the homies at 1:35.

“We Spit Bars” Short Version