Blog entry by Oakland Local edi....
Last updated at Wed, 12 Jan at 8:10am.

Daveed Diggs is a new rising force in the Oakland Rap scene. One of the frontmen of Bay Area band The Getback, Diggs wields his powerful lyricism and hypnotic cadences like only a true Oakland-raised MC can. Much of his delivery feels like an instrument itself, riding over bass-heavy beats and reinforced by his witty content.

Blog entry by Susan Mernit.
Last updated at Tue, 12 Oct at 6:01am.

"If you're going to get in the industry or the game, don't just do it for the money or the fame," says Oakland music treasure Mistah FAB in a recent video he shot directed at the hundred of young local musicians who ask him about ways to get a break.

Article by Eric K Arnold.
Last updated at Tue, 28 Sep at 5:35am.

A friend of mine told me the best Ice Cube story I’ve ever heard.

Article by Eric K Arnold.
Last updated at Sat, 25 Sep at 4:33am.

O’Shea Jackson – better known by his rap name Ice Cube – is as iconic a figure as exists in rap today.

Article by Eric K Arnold.
Last updated at Thu, 23 Sep at 4:26pm.

To many, hip-hop and chess seem like they’re from two different worlds.

Hip-hop appears more likely to embrace dominos or craps as its official sport; when you think of a chess player, Bobby Fischer comes to mind before Bobby Digital. Additionally, chess is often thought of as nerdy, uncool and decidedly not urban – a pastime of tweeded old men in city parks and geeky suburban kids.

Article by Tymeesa Rutledge.
Last updated at Mon, 23 Aug at 6:48am.

Being one of a few women in a male-dominated rap music industry - in one of the most independent music capitols of the world - can be overwhelming. Not for singer-songwriter Netta Brielle.

Article by Tehea Robie.
Last updated at Sun, 22 Aug at 8:33am.

They say, nothing in life is free.

Article by Scott James.
Last updated at Tue, 10 Aug at 6:38am.

Editor's Note: This week's Music Monday feature accompanies our weeklong series on green hip hop and Oakland's urban eco movement with music from two of the scene's leaders.  Fiyawata's Ambessa the Articulate brings a straight ahead hip hop track while

Article by Eric K Arnold.
Last updated at Mon, 2 Aug at 6:13am.

Back in the day – 1998, to be precise – Blackstar’s debut album, Talib Kweli and Mos Def Are BlackStar, established a new benchmark for “backpack rap.”

Blog entry by Stephen Allen.
Last updated at Fri, 28 May at 12:55am.

Early this month, an article was published in the Oakland Tribune about hip hop and the impact it has on African Americans. The article was written by Angela Woodall, but it was the author she chose to feature in her story who had some interesting things to say.

Blog entry by Stephen Allen.
Last updated at Mon, 26 Apr at 11:51pm.

Hip Hop is an art form and culture that originated in New York in the late 1970’s. The biggest component was music but also it included: fashion, graffiti, break dancing and beat boxing. It served as a way to bring the community together, preventing inner city gang violence.

Article by Kwan Booth.
Last updated at Fri, 23 Apr at 1:31pm.

Even though the environmental movement’s been around for decades, it’s safe to say that Oakland’s community activism and emphasis on green collar jobs, urban farming and organic, healthy foods has established us as a leader in the the nationwide resurgence.

Article by Edwin Okong’o.
Last updated at Thu, 11 Mar at 3:26pm.

This Friday, the "Beats, Rhymes and Life" benefit will raise money for a film about a longstanding rap therapy project for Oakland youth.

Article by Kwan Booth.
Last updated at Sun, 13 Dec at 11:19pm.

Even though their philosophies might not seem congruent at first, the idea of an environmentally sustainable, "green" hip hop movement really isn't so out there.

Article by Kwan Booth.
Last updated at Sat, 24 Oct at 2:38pm.

 

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