Orukusaki and Tefari at Filmatic Productions are continuing the weekly ROTC TV webisodes; every week, the episodes will capture the featured performers, patrons dancing to Kev’s set, MC’s, the Gemstone Band, and the overall vibe of ROTC. Khali at aFilmNoob shot and edited episodes 6.
ROTC TV: Episode 6- Return of the Beat Boxer
ROTC TV: Episode 7- Jern Eye
ROTC TV: Episode 8- Brycon x Luke Sick
ROTC TV: Episode 9- Mack Deezoe
ROTC TV: Episode 10- Boom Bap Sessions
Return of the Cypher now has an official weekly webisode series thanks to my brother Orukusaki and Tefari Casas from Filmatic Productions. Each ROTC TV episode will feature cyphers on and off the stage, the Gem Stone Band, DJ Kevvy Kev rocking the dance floor, featured performers, and patron interviews. Oruk will be the regular anchor, but I’ll cover for him when he’s out on assignments. Here are the first five episodes, enjoy.. Just always remember, ROTC is every Sunday evening at the Boom Boom Room in SF, and it’s always free and never will be canceled. All episodes shot by Tef @Filmatic Productions, except episode 5 shot and edited by Khali at aFilmNoob.
ROTC TV: Episode 5- the Introduction
ROTC TV: Episode 4- Rahman Jahmaal “Street Poetry” Release Party
ROTC TV: Episode 3- Watzreal Album Release Party
ROTC TV: Episode 2- Boom Bap Sessions feat. Joe Mousepad
ROTC TV: Episode 1- January MVP Competition
My alter ego 510 Japanda Thug won the ROTC Halloween MC Battle; all contestants had to battle as their characters and Japanda faced very worthy opponents. Captain Ruksok hosted, Z-Man from the Hiero Imperium helped with the judging, and DJ Kevvy Kev held down the decks.
Preliminary Cypher
Round 1: 510 Japanda Thug vs. Anonymous
Round 2: 510 Japanda Thug vs. Spready Kruger
Final Round: 510 Japanda Thug vs. Slender Woman
On some real shit, I thought that the final round could’ve gone either way.. so I decided to split the prize money with Slender Woman… who is actually the alter ego of Babii Cris. A lyrical prodigy who is barely 21.. her self-produced, self-engineered album is dropping 01/03/15.
ROTC young gun drops the “New Bay” video. Dude has been paying dues on a regular basis; buy a snapback off of him when you run into him and support the grind.
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!
My weekly event that I help organize, “Return of the Cypher” is hosting its first annual Halloween Costume MC Battle. All MC’s must have a costume, and must rap as their character. My crew member Orukusaki is the host and the crowd is the judge. My cousin 510 Japanda Thug will take part, so please come help save the pandas.
2FS (Kensho Kuma x Orukusaki) performance footage from 03/30/14, shot by Tefari Casas at the ROTC event at the Boom Boom Room. Stone Rock held down the boards. This show was dedicated to the ROTC home team.
You probably know by now that I help organize a weekly event called Return of the Cypher, which is an open-mic jam session at John Lee Hooker’s Boom Boom Room on Sunday nights. You probably know that it’s the fastest growing Hip Hop event in the Bay Area and that we have a very supportive community. If you were raised by the culture, you will feel like you finally made it home. All MC’s are encouraged to spit. We will be celebrating our one year anniversary on 06/15 with an amazing showcase filled with a diverse range of artists that have come through in the past year.
Preceding the anniversary showcase, the San Francisco Black Film Festival will be premiering “‘Til Infinity,” a Souls of Mischief documentary. Needless to say, it is extremely appropriate to host a world premier documentary about the Bay Area legends before our platoon of independent rappers set it off.
If you know me from real life, you know that I religiously attend “Return to the Cypher” @the Boom Boom Room (1601 Fillmore St., SF) on Sunday nights. You already know that I’m a ROTC director and I care very much about the event. You already know that I invite every MC I meet to come through and spit. If you have ever been to ROTC you know that it’s a very supportive and organic community that we’re building. On 04/27/14 I will be the cypher host and also will be featured during the weekly performance. My homie Denero’s Stocks and Bonds crew will be the featured guest on 04/27. The event is free as usual, so come through.
Also, this particular ROTC will feature our One Track Wonder competition. Contestants get to perform one song, the audience judges, and the 04/27 champion will receive prizes and an invite to perform in a future competition amongst the winners. If you’re interested in competing in the One Track Wonder competition, please follow the directions below and good luck.
Yours truly will be headlining the Boom Boom Room in SF on December 8th, 2013. I am the featured artist at the ongoing weekly freestyle jam session “Return of the Cypher” which goes down Sunday nights. Been going regularly this month and my freestyle instincts are back to where they need to be. 12/08 will be a half hour bilingual set (that’s so appropriate since Boom Boom Room is across the street from Japantown) and veteran DJ Kevvy Kev will be holding down my set. ROTC MC’s will be in effect as usual. If you’re a vocalist of any kind, you’re more than welcome to participate in the open mic segment of the show. Oh yeah, it’s free admission.
