Kensho Kuma

Bilingual MC representing Berkeley, CA. Collaborative project w/ Cloud NI9E "the Program EP" available now!!

Global Gutter Gourmet Sampler

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When I’m in East Oakland, I’m eating carne asada super burritos. When I’m in 西成、it’s definitely もんじゃ and たこ焼き。In Berlin, it’s the fish sandwiches. Once I reach Prague, hook up the pork knuckles. Come have some appetizers from my “Global Gutter Gourmet” platter.. (they’re select tracks from an upcoming mix CD.) 地球上どこにいても、俺はドヤ街でうまい、ローカルなソールフード食べてます。ニューミックスCDから４曲召し上がれ。Graffiti by Marcus Murray and Mixes by D-Wiz.

Quarantine Survival

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I teamed up with my people in Paris France for this one. “Quarantine Survival” by La Rime Metisse and yours truly. Produced by Far Beats. Keep your ass home.. none of us safe, until all of us safe.

Bandcamp Updated

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The Kensho Kuma Bandcamp has been updated!! Listeners are able to download select tracks from the upcoming “Lineage ov the Lyricist” for FREE and name prices for past albums.. all purchases will be used to mix my upcoming album with Cloud NI9E. (No, I ain’t one of these MC’s that claim to know how to engineer because they can run their DAW.) My engineer has always been paid off.. So yeah, get the tracks for FREE or donate a little if you can. Peace.

Lineage ov the Lyricist

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The Lineage ov the Lyricist FREE album has been completed and is coming soon.. but hey, I’m not rushing the release; it’s 60-minutes of unreleased music mixed by DJ Kevvy Kev.. The project is a lot less formal than my other official releases.. it’s just me barring out to whatever instrumental I please. Here are the finalized version of some of the songs.

Boom Boom Room Needs Your Support

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The historic Boom Boom Room in SF’s Fillmore district has been the home of Return of the Cypher for almost seven years now. Our weekly open-mic has rightfully earned the title, “where Hip Hop Culture resides in the Bay Area”, and I consider my involvement with the event to be one of my most meaningful experiences in Hip Hop. R.O.T.C. has definitely taught me the values of camaraderie, selflessness, diplomacy, and giving back; I credit the event for making me not only a better MC, but a better human being. Yes I acknowledge that sounds cheezeball, but I have really learned a lot on the human level through this event.

Unfortunately, the Boom Boom Room is facing permanent closure, due to the current Corona Virus pandemic; BBR has set up a Covid Rescue Fund to alleviate some of their compounding debt. Although the total sum necessary for the emergency fund is stated as 150K, this fundraiser is trying to reach the 60K goal to get dialogue going amongst community members about the seriousness of the situation. Please help out if you can.

Marcus Murray Website

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Marcus Murray has always been my graphic designer. I’ve known dude since the late-90’s/ early-2000’s Telegraph Berkeley scene, and he has done every single album cover and official logo of mine. These album covers chronicle my life experience in Hip Hop culture, and I plan to hire him for all future official projects. He has a site now, and limited prints are available!! Artists, if you’re in need of professional graphics, Marcus is your dude.. I can tell you from experience that he’ll diligently work with you through the process, is extremely responsive to feedback, and is very familiar with the independent music scene.

In 2017, he did the album cover to 2nd Floor Samurais’ “Shogun Stories.” I initially approached him with a vision of an energy source amidst warring empires, and he took it from there..
In 2013, he did the cover to “the Program EP”; check out how California and Japan are facing each other under the dragon..
2010’s “Projekt Life Force” was probably the most challenging piece for Marcus.. this one took forever to finalize.. but as you can see, it’s something that will stand the test of time.
2006’s “Rewritten Code ov Honor”.. this was the one that convinced me that he was the only graphic designer that I would need..

I cannot recommend Marcus Murray enough. Hit my man up when you need some quality work done.