By JR Valrey, The Minister of Information 2021 took a lot of people that are family to me like my cousins Jamario and Eric Hooker, my aunt Doris, my uncle Dell, my community-sister Mahasen, my potnas: rappers Shock G and Biaje, and I’m sure there’s … Continue readingThe Life and Passing of Oakland Producer Jared “Sto” Meeks
By JR Valrey, The Minister of Information Elijah Baker is a multi-talented instrumentalist who is most known for his work with Tony, Toni, Tone although he had an extensive career playing behind Oakland rap legend Too Short, as well as leading his own band, Park … Continue readingMusician Elijah Baker Recently Dropped New Traditional Funk Album, “A Real Mother Funker”
By JR Valrey, The Minister of Information James Rockefeller III is a local television legend, who many may remember from his Hip Hop show at Soulbeat back in the day. When BET’s Donnie Simpson or Yo MTV Raps ignored the Bay Area, Rocke and Soulbeat … Continue readingJames Rockefeller’s VJTV is a Trailblazer in Black Media
By JR Valrey, the Minister of Information Yesterday evening I woke from a nap, checked social media, and saw that another one of my brothers that I grew up with, on the Bay Area music scene over the last 20 plus years, Steve “Zumbi” Gaines … Continue readingSalute To My Brotha Zumbi of Zion I
Black Owned Live-Performance Venues in Oakland Struggle to Financially Breathe By JR Valrey, The People’s Minister of Information Oakland nightlife has been severely affected by the Covid pandemic, which was evident when the premiere live-performance jazz club, Yoshi’s, in Jack London Square, created a … Continue readingBlack Owned Live-Performance Venues in Oakland Struggle to Financially Breathe
By JR Valrey, the People’s Minister of Information Oakland has a history of superb Hip Hop story-tellers although the Town has never received the credit for it, wordsmiths like: Askari X, Boots from the Coup, Seagram, V. White, the Luniz, 3X Crazy, BadnFluenz, Poohman, Father … Continue readingThe Hip Hop Return of the Lyrical Mastermind Young Gully
By JR Valrey “Music is the weapon of the future, music is the weapon of progressives, music is the weapon of the givers of life” – Fela Anikulapo Kuti Conscious music has been a part of our struggle and movement for self-determination since the beginning, … Continue readingMusic is the Weapon: an interview with wordsmith i1masterkey
By JR Valrey, The People’s Minister of Information For the last 50 years, “The Last Poets” have been instrumental in politically educating Black Amerikkka, as well as the world, to our uphill battle against genocide and for liberation and self-determination in the land of the … Continue readingAbiodun of the Last Poets Talks About Impact After 50 Years, Weak Slogans in the Movement, and the Role of Artists Today
By JR Valrey Known mostly for being a celebrity barber, the East Oakland raised Brownie Blendz has began to make noise in the streets, during Corona, with his music-making hobby, in particular with his political songs “Times Up” and the “Times Up remix” featuring Oakland … Continue readingBrownie Blendz Brings East Oakland Back to Its Political Hip Hop roots with “Times Up remix” featuring V-White, Mr. Ill, and Ant Diddley Dogg