by JR Valrey, The Minister of Information JR Queen Deelah remains a lyrically conscious Hip Hop powerhouse 13 years after she left what Otis Redding called “the dock of the bay”, and relocated to the sleepy town, which is turning into the nation’s next tech … Continue readingThe Last Conscious Rapper Alive: Queen Deelah Speaks on Vaccines, Inspiration, and More
By JR Valrey, The Minister of Information One of the most beautiful things about Ajgod and Honey Gold Jasmine is that they are musicians that are madly in love with each other, in an era where misogynistic and man-hating rap is the prevailing genre that … Continue readingHoney Gold Jasmine and Ajgod Bring Black Love and Positivity Back to Music
By JR Valrey, The Minister of Information I love Bay Area Hip Hop, and music in general, because I am a big fan of musical innovation, passion, and great story-telling. With the exception of Mystic of Digital Underground, there hasn’t been any female MC’s that … Continue readingHunter’s Point Femcee, So Vicious Has Been Making Herself a Force to Reckon With
By JR Valrey, the Minister of Information Reminiscent of the great crooners like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Donny Hathaway, Ty Astor is a very talented vocalist that I met at D. Wiggs’ Small Stage Sesh, on a Monday, in East Oakland. Ty Astor stood … Continue readingTy Astor is the Future Sound of RnB from the Bay
By JR Valrey, The People’s Minister of Information Beyond the revolution, prostitution, the drug scene, tech, and independent Hip Hop, Oakland is known for its production of talented female vocalists that either were developed in the Town, or that passed through to hone their craft. … Continue readingSongstress Keidra’s Single “Body” Gives the Bay Area a New Sound
By The Minister of Information JR If anybody won musically this year, out of the Bay, it is the poetics of Champ Green, who just dropped his “Agape Elephant in the Room” project yesterday. The heavy metaphor-laden wordsmith is also one of the frontmen for … Continue readingOakland’s Beast on a Beat Champ Green Talks About Droppin’ New Album and His Lyrical Hustle Through the Pandemic