Zion I

K.Flay's Smart-Aleck Rhymes Could be the Bay's Next Big Export

A Smart Aleck with Rhymes

Meet K.Flay, the Stanford grad who might be the Bay's next big female rapper

"Distortion 2 Static" Turns off the Mic After 10 Years

Meet K.Flay, the Stanford grad who might be the Bay's next big female rapper

RJD2 on the Dehumanizing of Music, and Performing with Four Turntables

​Performing with and producing for artists like EL-P, Aesop Rock, and Aceyalone, RJD2 has paved an unprecedented path for himself since the 2002 debut of his instrumental hip-hop album, Deadringer. He's shown his creativity in a variety of outlets, whether it be the soundtrack to a skate vide ... More >>

The Top Five Rap Cameos on The Simpsons

Kid Rock!​The squeaky-pitched funk of "Do The Bartman" might not come up often when rap nerds talk about hip-hop's golden era, but during The Simpsons' near 500-episode reign, the show has proved more than willing to spoof the rap world's biggest stars. So with the somewhat curious news that N ... More >>

DJ Prince Aries Talks Bay Area Rap, Loving Too $hort, and Why Busta Rhymes Is a Jerk

Prince Aries​Prince Aries has been a presence in the Bay Area's hip-hop scene for more than a decade now, holding down VJ duties on the Distortion 2 Static show, throwing local rap parties, and now releasing a mixtape that combines exclusive tracks from the Bay's bright new stars like DaVinci ... More >>

Download Three SXSF Mixtapes From The Bay Bridged

Yes, but do they have Rainbow Grocery?​Feeling bummed because you're not in Austin right now for SXSW? Buck up, young modern. As our fearless leader Ian S. Port has already discovered, you "pretty much can't spit in Austin" without hitting an act, or a festivalgoer, from San Francisco and environs ... More >>

Sizzle & Fizzle: Highs and lows from the last week in S.F. music

Yes, but do they have Rainbow Grocery?​Feeling bummed because you're not in Austin right now for SXSW? Buck up, young modern. As our fearless leader Ian S. Port has already discovered, you "pretty much can't spit in Austin" without hitting an act, or a festivalgoer, from San Francisco and environs ... More >>

In Print: Robyn's Robot Obsession, the Gloomy Royal Baths, and the Sadies' Family Affair

​From SF Weekly's latest print music section:Robyn: While most of today's pop stars are eager to define their public personas, '90s two-hit wonder turned electropop princess Robyn likes to keep people guessing. When asked whether her frequent tongue-in-cheek cockiness is for real, for example ... More >>

Q&A w/ Joyo Velarde of Quannum Projects

​Joyo Velarde is taking a break from being everybody's back-up singer. After incessant touring with Jurassic 5, the Living Legend Crew, Blackalicious, Michael Franti, Zion I, Ozomatli, and husband Lyrics Born, among many others, the classically-trained, Pleasanton-based, Quannum Projects vocalist ... More >>

Friday Night: The Coup Pays Tribute to Dewey Tucker

​The Coup January 15, 2010 The Independent Better Than: Zion I Friday night, The Coup played a somber salute to Dewey Tucker, the group's bassist who was murdered Wednesday while driving to band practice. "I would have cancelled the show tonight," said Boots Riley, the Coup's frontman. "I almost ... More >>

The Eazy Stylings of Jern Eye

​The Coup January 15, 2010 The Independent Better Than: Zion I Friday night, The Coup played a somber salute to Dewey Tucker, the group's bassist who was murdered Wednesday while driving to band practice. "I would have cancelled the show tonight," said Boots Riley, the Coup's frontman. "I almost ... More >>

Video of the Day: Amp Live vs. the Robot vs. Trackademics

There's so much going for this video clip--one of the singles off Amp Live's upcoming solo record. "Gary is a Robot" infects you like Swine Flu with that funky android club beat, the lip synching nurse bit is cute, and the whole concept of a robot who swipes hipster styles is really smart (especial ... More >>

The High and Low Life

New Year's Eve options abound for both champagne and beer budgets.

Outside Lands Day Two: Street Sweeper Social Club, Trombone Shorty, Black Eyed Peas, The Mars Volta

EKAphotography​Outside Lands Day 2: Street Sweeper Social Club, Trombone Shorty, Black Eyed Peas, The Mars Volta, & more, Saturday, August 20, 2009.Better Than: sitting in the park, waiting for you.The first day of Outside Lands was a huge freakin' success, especially if you stayed at the Twin ... More >>

Outside Lands Day 1, Pearl Jam, Tom Jones, Black Joe Lewis

Chritopher VictorioTom Jones​Pearl Jam, Tom Jones, Incubus, Black Joe Lewis & the HoneybearsOutside LandsFriday, Aug. 28, 2009Better than: Anything else you could be doing in Golden Gate Park on a Friday night.The opening day of the second annual Outside Lands was, overall, what I'd call a ple ... More >>

Chron Disses, Praises Outside Lands

"Richmond then divulges that she herself has used Porta Potties at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass..."

New Local Videos from My First Earthquake, Lyrics Born

Two-fer Tuesday here on the local video tip. My First Earthquake riffs off the concept of chicks getting kicked outta bands run by backwards dudes. And Lyrics Born drops a new video for "Pushed Aside, Pulled Apart" featuring Lateef The Truthspeaker. The song also has cameos by Joyo Velarde, Zion ... More >>

M.I.S., Tommy Guerrero, and Money Mark at Makeout Room

EKAphotographyOfficially Hip: M.I.S.' Camilo Lara with Tommy Guerrero and Money Mark​ Cumbia is the new Afrofunk/Batucada/Baile funk/Bhangra/Reggaeton. Hipsters have embraced the quirky Latin dance music, just as they did other global sounds of recent note, with open arms. If you need further evi ... More >>

Crown City Rockers Sign to K7

Boom Bapster: Raashan Ahmad I caught Rashaan Ahmad opening up for Nino Moschella at the Shattuck Down Low last Friday. Got to give it up to Ra--he cannot be accused of keeping it "too real," yet he certainly keeps it 100% true-school hip-hop with his adidas sneakers and Cazal frames. Ra's rapid-fir ... More >>

10 Things to Do This Weekend for Under $10

Lazer SwordOur picks for cheap arts, bands, and farts that won't break the bank. L.O.W.'s One-Year Anniversary w/ Bar Crudo (Fri)We don't remember our first birthdays being this extravagant (then again, we don't remember much about them at all). But hey, Look Out Weekend has been hosting semi-high-c ... More >>

The Jacka reprises hyphy with a gangsta twist

Lazer SwordOur picks for cheap arts, bands, and farts that won't break the bank. L.O.W.'s One-Year Anniversary w/ Bar Crudo (Fri)We don't remember our first birthdays being this extravagant (then again, we don't remember much about them at all). But hey, Look Out Weekend has been hosting semi-high-c ... More >>

10 Things to Do This Weekend for Under $10

MochipetOur hand picked list of events worth your spare time, for the price of your spare change. Zombie Beach Party (Friday)In San Francisco, Zombies never say die. When they're not "killing" people during flash mobs, they're going to the beach--indoors, of course, because the real sun would damage ... More >>

Adam Theis' symphony of jazz, funk, and hip-hop

MochipetOur hand picked list of events worth your spare time, for the price of your spare change. Zombie Beach Party (Friday)In San Francisco, Zombies never say die. When they're not "killing" people during flash mobs, they're going to the beach--indoors, of course, because the real sun would damage ... More >>

The Zoo complex supports music synergy in Oakland

MochipetOur hand picked list of events worth your spare time, for the price of your spare change. Zombie Beach Party (Friday)In San Francisco, Zombies never say die. When they're not "killing" people during flash mobs, they're going to the beach--indoors, of course, because the real sun would damage ... More >>

A San Franciscan’s guide to SXSW

MochipetOur hand picked list of events worth your spare time, for the price of your spare change. Zombie Beach Party (Friday)In San Francisco, Zombies never say die. When they're not "killing" people during flash mobs, they're going to the beach--indoors, of course, because the real sun would damage ... More >>

Bay Area Hip-Hop Prepares to Invade SXSW

Texicali Roads: Keelay & Zaire We're still checking whether it's possible to ghost-ride a tumbleweed (we'll get back to you on that), but here's one thing we do know: Bay Area hip hop will be in the, er, prairie, at SXSW. MYX label artists Keelay & Zaire perform at four--count 'em--showcase ... More >>

Oscar Grant B-Day Party at Black Dot Cafe

EKAphotographyBeeda Weeda and friendThe national media attention has pretty much moved elsewhere, yet the tragic shooting death of Oscar Grant on New Year's Day remains a sore spot for many in the community. In death, Grant has become a poster boy (literally) for the case against police misconduct, ... More >>

Hey DJ! Friday Q&A: Aaron Axelsen

EKAphotographyBeeda Weeda and friendThe national media attention has pretty much moved elsewhere, yet the tragic shooting death of Oscar Grant on New Year's Day remains a sore spot for many in the community. In death, Grant has become a poster boy (literally) for the case against police misconduct, ... More >>

The Grouch Personifies the Hip-Hop Hustle

EKAphotographyBeeda Weeda and friendThe national media attention has pretty much moved elsewhere, yet the tragic shooting death of Oscar Grant on New Year's Day remains a sore spot for many in the community. In death, Grant has become a poster boy (literally) for the case against police misconduct, ... More >>

Major-Label Misfit: Mistah F.A.B.

EKAphotographyBeeda Weeda and friendThe national media attention has pretty much moved elsewhere, yet the tragic shooting death of Oscar Grant on New Year's Day remains a sore spot for many in the community. In death, Grant has become a poster boy (literally) for the case against police misconduct, ... More >>

Juno, Preggo Porn, Erik Otto, and SF Sketchfest - Your Monday Morning Hangover

EKAphotographyBeeda Weeda and friendThe national media attention has pretty much moved elsewhere, yet the tragic shooting death of Oscar Grant on New Year's Day remains a sore spot for many in the community. In death, Grant has become a poster boy (literally) for the case against police misconduct, ... More >>

Juno, Preggo Porn, Erik Otto, and SF Sketchfest - Your Monday Morning Hangover

EKAphotographyBeeda Weeda and friendThe national media attention has pretty much moved elsewhere, yet the tragic shooting death of Oscar Grant on New Year's Day remains a sore spot for many in the community. In death, Grant has become a poster boy (literally) for the case against police misconduct, ... More >>

The new Fox Theater, the arty Red Poppy, and the hustlin' Demolition Men

The Bay is looking up in 2008

SF Weekly Music Awards 2007 Program

The Bay is looking up in 2008

Devin The Dude: 'Beer and Rap'-Approved

The Bay is looking up in 2008

Get Blunted With Snoop Dogg's Boy in SF Tonight

The Bay is looking up in 2008

The Bus Stops Here

Mistah F.A.B. picks up where hyphy left off

The Fifth Element

As mainstream hip hop stalemates in commodities, underground MCs keep old-school aesthetics alive through art

Live Wires

The high and lowlights of 2006 performances

Bubble, Toil, and Trouble

Bay Area hip hop ponders a Cristal boycott

A New Dawn, a New Bay

A fresh, vital hip hop scene is shaping up in the Bay Area, and MC Balance is leading the charge

Playing the Field

On a horse, of course

Styles Upon Styles

The Bay Area's Triple Threat DJs bring all their records to the party

Back from -- and with -- the dead

Kimo's and the Dead Kennedys return

Various Artists

The Funky Precedent Vol 2 (Matador/No Mayo)

Into the Mystic

After more than a decade of struggles, is Mystic ready for mainstream hip hop success?

Thinking Outside the Beatbox

Local label Nu Gruv retools its octopuslike approach to underground hip hop

Band of Outsiders

Bay Area hip hop trio Foreign Legion has no use for gangstas, hos, or stale beats

Hear This

Bay Area hip hop trio Foreign Legion has no use for gangstas, hos, or stale beats