Bay Area Hip Hop

R.A. the Rugged Man’s “Definition of a Rap Flow” Contest

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I submitted a song to the “Definition of a Rap Flow” contest being hosted by R.A. the Rugged Man. I thought it was really cool how contestants can choose from Mr. Green instrumentals… instead of barring out at Super Saiyan 1000%, I remade a song to “the Dangerous Three” beat.

I usually don’t care about contests, but R.A. has really had a significant influence on me… one of the first instrumentals I remember attempting to record a song to back in the 90’s was “Till my Heart Stops.” Dude has paid dues forever and the “Legends Never Die” album is probably my favorite album to come out in recent years. This contest is also being judged by Talib Kweli and Vinnie Paz, who are without a doubt in my top artists list.

HH4C in the Media

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As you probably know by now, Hip Hop 4 Change is a non-profit organization dedicated to making socioeconomic change through the educational implementation of Hip Hop; what that means is that the members go out to campuses and teach academic skills from a Hip Hop stance using its own curriculum. The organization also throws its own events showcasing local talent; the acts are specifically selected to reintroduce and emphasize the core beliefs/ morals of our culture, which are peace, love, unity, and having fun. We are opposed to the mainstream glamorization of sexism, drug abuse, homophobia, materialism, and gang violence; we believe that these problems are not/ should not be the only available representation of our culture, people, or community.

HH4C have been receiving lots of coverage in the media recently. Yours truly is briefly included in the East Bay Express article. Director/ BPos MC Khafre Jay was also featured on a KPIX segment titled “Oakland Rappers Want to Change the Game with Positivity.”

ROTC- Every Sunday Night @ the Boom Boom Room

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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!

ROTC New

Infinite “Double Beatdown” Video

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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

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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

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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.

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Kensho Kuma Opening for MC Jin

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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.

 

Undivided Flier

Osaka Dates Confirmed

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Osaka Japan Dates have been confirmed. I will be performing these shows without DJ Cloud NI9E. These shows will be the openers for the 2014 Asia Summer Tour.

07/25 “Green Label” Event @ the Garden Bar.

07/26 “Kakuro” Party @ the Long a Long.

More dates TBA.

Osaka Flier2 Osaka Flier1

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08/09 Osaka Long A Long

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Yours truly has just been added as the special guest for the August 9th “Sound Fix” event @Long A Long. Osaka underground fixture DJ Godz will be holding down my set. This marks my fourth live performance for the 2014 Summer Asia Tour. ????????????????????????????????????????DJ Godz ????DJ????????2014???????????????????????

Sound Fix

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