Comrades

Back to School Drip Fest 09/30/23

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I will be rocking at the Back to School Drip Fest, organized by Khafre Jay’s Hip Hop for the Future org, on 09/30/2023, with DJ Lex and headliners La Russell and Stunnaman 02.

About the event

At Hip Hop For The Future SPC. and Freedom Forward, we see philanthropy as more than just a name on a banner. It’s about fostering real, tangible change in our community. The Back 2 School Drip Fest, our upcoming event, aims to empower San Francisco’s marginalized youth.

We believe that authentic philanthropy is not about levels of giving or the names on banners. True philanthropy is about fostering real change, driving impactful initiatives, and engaging with the community at the grassroots level. It is about stepping up to ensure that those who need the most support are given every opportunity to thrive. It’s about the belief that by investing in our youth, we are investing in our future.

We are seeking partners and sponsors – for the Back 2 School Drip Fest. Companies who are ready to stand with us, to stand with our youth, and to stand with our community. Partners who aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and contribute meaningfully to an event far beyond a single day. Let’s move beyond conventional sponsorship. Let’s blaze a trail for transformative change together. Join us and participate in this journey toward a brighter future.

Featuring free clothing and footwear, free barbering, haircuts, and styling (because when you look good, you feel good), community resources, health & wellness services, food trucks, and local Hip Hop artists showcasing live music, art & dancing.

JOIN US IN ELEVATING SF YOUTH! HYPE Center & Hip Hop for the Future are seeking support in the following ways:

Health & wellness activities

  • CPR Classes
  • Chair Massages Clinic Appointments (Bookings & Referrals)
  • Mental Health & Alternative Healing Modalities

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

  • Barbers & Hair Stylists (Cuts, Braids)
  • Financial Literacy and Mobility Employment & Workforce Development College,
  • Trade Schools and Unions

DONATIONS REQUESTED IN 250+ QUANTITIES

  • Clothing (Jeans/Pants, Hoodies/Sweatshirts, Shirts/Polos, Skirts/Dresses)
  • Shoes (Athletic, Sneakers, Skate, Boots, Flats)
  • Accessories (Belts, Hats, Beanies, Purses, Sunglasses, Wallets, Scarfs/Head)

Community-based Organizations – Table at the event for free! Bring your own table, chairs, and shade covers Bring materials, resources, and incentives Promote the BACK 2 SCHOOL DRIP FEST to your community Bring your young people!

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.

La Rime Métisse “Vivement” Corona Awareness Video

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My peoples in Paris France, La Rime Metisse (King Siroko x Architeknic) just released “VIVEMENT”, a Corona awareness video. Yours truly has a brief cameo appearance.

The duo is in the midst of preparing their upcoming album “Jusqu’au bout”, so stay tuned..

Methadone (Hip Hop Against Drug Abuse)

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If you know me from real life, you know that I am a product of sobriety/recovery.. Although I was able to celebrate 8 years of continuous sobriety this past August, I remain extremely concerned about the normalization, satirization, and promotion of AUD/alcoholism, substance abuse, mental disorders, and dual diagnoses, prevalent in our culture. I have known certain artists for over a decade whom I have never seen sober. There are numerous men huddled by a bathroom stall sniffing lines at any given venue. Young people are conditioned to sing lyrics about pills and codeine without even knowing it. I am that one MC who’s gonna tell you that this is NOT cool.

This one is dedicated to anyone who has suffered from alcoholism, addiction, and/or dual diagnosis.. you are welcome to holler at me anytime..

the Game Music Video

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I am featured in the brand new music video “the Game”, off of Japanese emcee/ producer Rikinish‘s album “Everyday.” The video also features and is directed by R.O.T.C. all star Jane the Message. Shot by Sarah Arnold and cameo appearances by UnLearn the World, Po, Ismael Ahmad, quattro, Alex Pascarz. Special Thanks to Christopher Tang and the Boom Boom Room.

Never Be Famous

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Brand New Banger by Sticky Ricardo featuring Kensho Kuma!! “Never Be Famous” is scheduled to appear on Sticky Ricardo’s upcoming “Sticks and Stones” debut album; his project will also have appearance from the legendary Killarmy clique. This track is about being content with accepting that you’ll never “blow-up” by so-called “industry” standards and is written from the perspective of an independent artist dealing with everyday trials and tribulations. The graphic was created by Jane the Message and is modeled after the Japanese Doraemon font.

Never Be Famous Verse 1: “Yeah, rappers talm ’bout, getting more Prada/ your boy’s independent, shipping out product/ never sold hella units, gotta day job/ I’m performing at the local shows, on my days off/ yeah, use my vacation, for oversea tours/ I’m flirting with a mermaid, on foreign seashores/ hi! getting more supporters, more than before/ but we can’t buy a house or afford the decor/ and we blame one percenters and white older heads/ but I’m more evil when I’m outta bipolar meds/ ughh, Lithium, Depakote in pill cabinet/ but I hate feeling numb, rather feel passionate/ ’bout everything in life, success to the failure/ you talk a good one homie, let’s see you wager/ running with the immigrants, Mexican neighbors/ know the Japones is raw and get’s only greater/ invest my Bitcoin, in Vivranium/ and hire more teachers and librarians/ I don’t give a shit if I don’t rock in a stadium/ but tired of the students getting shot in the cranium/”

Chorus (repeat x 2): “I ain’t even tripping that I’ll never be famous/ ’cause I murder everything, when I hit the stages/ nothing but my real life, written on the pages/ we’ll be here forever, ’cause the way we flows ageless/”

Never Be Famous Verse 2: “My beautiful masseuse got me feeling great/ I’m on a cruise boat with friends and we grilling steak/ if you, talk shit my killers will seal your fate/ ughh, jets and helicopters on my real estate/ I got every pair of Nikes, that were ever made/ at the venues in your city, my records getting played/ Kendrick called last night, and asked for a feature/ my photo shoots packed with some Japanese divas/ (wake yo ass up!) damn, back to my real life/ what I do for a living doesn’t even feel right/ trapped in a meeting writing verses in my head/ I should be out touring in Europe, but instead/ my bitch of a boss, writing me a reprimand/ if I get one more, I’m fired so I’m stressing fam/ lemme get you tea, ah! mix it with some Diprivan/ kill all the cameras, return with some weapons (blam!)/ I ain’t even serious, my dreams and my nightmares/ always influence the rhyme schemes that I write here/ we respected for the way we rep on the mic/ but we speak for real people with some regular lives/”

Chorus (repeat x 2):

Brand New 2nd Floor Samurais Track

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I am proud to present a brand new 2nd Floor Samurais banger.. “Why You Do It” was produced by Japanese turntablist pioneer DJ $HIN of Turntable Troopers Entertainment. It was recorded amidst our Asia tour last year in Osaka, Japan. DJ $HIN runs the Skratch Labo DJ school.. if you’re in Kansai and you’re interested in becoming a DJ, this is mos def the place to check out!! It’s a comfortable environment with more hi-tech gadgets than I can explain..

 

Kensho Kuma Verse 1: “Got ma game from the smugglers turned businessmen/ it’s a deeper cognition that my words get you in/ yeah the 2nd floor image now worth dividends/ so my circle hella small ’cause the turf listening/ for the intel, hmmm how they get that foreign doe?/ how they tour overseas? what? they was poor before/ how they popping Dom P, and they pouring more?/ you can closely watch, but nothing I’m recording for/ coming with a price tag or sold through an auction/ the weight of the entire world I hold for my squadron/ kamikaze diary, told through my doctrine/ I rep perseverance, we don’t fold when we boxed in/ the broke kids happy with headlining local gigs/ the Samurais on 2nd floor be on some global shit/ monetize, don’t you forgot what the focus is/and  we trust only family, not no associates/”

 

Here is a 2nd Floor Samurais music video which was also shot in Japan last year…