Blog entry by Susan Mernit.
Last updated at Thu, 14 Jul at 7:46am.

We've always been big fans of Lyfe - ever since his turn on Def Poetry Jam a few years ago - but having Lyfe doing five weeks of shows right here in Oakland is about as good as it gets, even in the rich mix of Oakland's vibrant arts scene.

Blog entry by Cecil Brown.
Last updated at Sat, 25 Jun at 2:49am.

In an effort to bridge the gap between American culture and the new democracy in Tunisia, where the Arab spring begun, the U.S. Justice Department contacted the Remarkable Current record label to invite hip-hop artists to tour Tunisia and Algeria as part of a program called Hip Hop Ambassadors.

Article by Tehea Robie.
Last updated at Fri, 13 May at 10:13pm.

It's that moment when Dr. Seuss-inspired sneetches - with and without stars on their bellies - are running around.

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.