Here are some videos from juice 2009.
All the way from the top of the world. Alaska own Bay Dilla from Out DA Cutt records present his new single "Just Me"
I just wanted to give a quick review on Juice this year and this year is a turning point, in my opinion, when it comes to taking a look at the Alaska b-boy scene. Juice being a yearly event is a good way to see how far everything has grown since the last year and it's easy to bookmark people's progress. There were some competitions that did not take place this year that have been with Juice, like the beatboxing and DJ comp; the new addition of popping, however, I can see staying with Juice, knowing how many people are into popping.
Each year has its moments that seperates it from other the Juice events. This year I saw the newer generation stepping up and they brought heat. It's good to see a newer generation coming, which is happening dominantly in Anchorage, this makes me want to go teach classes or something lol. It's either I've seen "noob" kids that have gotten better since I last saw them, or kids I've never seen bringing heat. At this point, I no longer see it as a scene with one or two dominant crews, but with mulitple crews doing their thing to be on top. It's good to know that the scene is growing in such a way. The only thing I can say I'd like to see more of is more open circle action. Its hard to feel a vibe when nobody is getting down.
The 4v4 b-boy format was new and gave a different energy from other Juice events. The winners of the 4v4 were me and my crew Canned Funk (Me, Figment, JJ and Gio), all from Fairbanks with the exception Gio. The collective skill level of the b-boys that entered has risen the bar than the years before. Much props to EOR for bringing it at the finals, you guys had mad energy and came to win and if you guys did win I wouldn't have contested the decision. Aside from the finals my favorite part was the 3-way battle, which was mad heated between CNS, Yessiam and us for semi-final, a 3-way with another group of men would not compare what happened at Juice.
I wanna give mad props to Jewlz for holding it down for Juice, one of the events I look forward to every year and with new people getting involved, I hope this event grows with the scene. If anyone wants to see footage, I have uploaded my footage of the battles on youtube.
Strange typically isnt a word used to best illustrate a hip hop concert unless of course your describing a show put on by Kansas City, Missouri rap artist Tech N9ne. The rapper displayed an insanely incredible performance from entry to exit during his Strictly Strange 08 tour in Anchorage, Alaska. Accompanied by rappers Krizz Kaliko and Kutt Calhoun, the trio packed the Egan Convention Center a task that has been unsuccessful for previous promoters and performers alike.
The concert began with performances by Alaska’s own Indefinite Etiquette, Arctic Flow, and AK Thunder Funk all whom manage to entertain a very eager and ambitious crowd. As the audience grew thicker with fans the tone became just right for a stray jacket wearing face painted entrance by Tech N9ne. Crowd members chanted his name in worship of a rapper known to deliver high powered, mind blowing performances. The artist unleashed himself from his restraints revealing his all white medical scrubs costume and completed a few solo songs as the show climaxed to an even greater level of entertaining awkwardness. Strange Music artists Krizz Kaliko and Kutt Calhoun sprinted onto the stage dressed in identical white medical attire.
The three executed routines and collaboration tracks leaving the audience asking themselves, “What could possibly occur next?”
Kutt Calhoun then dashed off stage headed straight for the gate that held back devoted listeners. He propped himself up one hand holding the gate and the other cuffing his mic as he stood chest to chest with fans. Audience members embraced him as he spit lyric for lyric and rhyme for rhyme. Still yet there was more in store. Tech N9ne shortly after escorted a fan to the stage directing her to sit in a chair that sat center spot light. Krizz Kaliko then serenaded her as Tech N9ne seduced her to a track entitled “The Sexorist,” a single off disc two of Tech N9ne’s 2008 release Killer.
As the saying goes…”All good things come to end.” Though the Strictly Strange Tour in Anchorage, Alaska was nearing its finale the audience was satisfied with its near two hour show a courtesy that has been neglected by many entertainers visiting the 907. Supporters attended in numbers despite the groups second show within a year. Indeed the Strange Music artists performed an unbelievable show but above all it’s the rappers’ devotion to their fan base that keeps Alaskan fans coming back for more.
Tech N9ne/Krizz Kaliko/ Kutt Calhoun Concert Review clear here for more photos from the concert
Sin City
Alaska hip-hop flourishes in summer spotlight
Barry Piser
For the most part, though, the Alaska hip-hop scene has been invisible to those that didn’t seek it out. But the past three summers a competition called Juice gives the public a taste of what local DJs, emcees and B-boys are capable of.Juice 3, along with the second annual Drive Car Show, squeezed into the Tesoro Sports Centre parking lot June 11 and brought enough flavor to make the Kool-Aid Man say “Oh, yeah!”
Merriam-Webster Online defines hip-hop as “a subculture” that includes “rap music, graffiti, and break dancing.” The Alaska “subculture” was well represented with competition winners hailing from Juneau, Sitka and Anchorage.
“It forms a community when there wasn’t one in Alaska,” he said.
The DJ battle came down a hotly contested finish between defending champ Astronomar of Juneau and Anchorage’s own Victamone. Both DJs cued up records right and left and had verbal taunts, some explicit, coming out of the speakers. The two showed enough finger dexterity that local DJ Ike Cuttz, one of the judges, was trying to get a closer look.
After the final round, the three judges decided the two needed had to have a final scratch-off using the same record. In a decision the judges seemed to hate having to make, Astronomar became a back-to-back champ.
The Juneau DJ’s name is Marlon Lumba, who got into hip-hop as a teenager. He built up his record collection by ordering online or skipping class to dig at the Salvation Army.
“It’s vulturous,” he said. “You gotta find what you can.”
Clad in a patchwork cabbie hat, a Misfits tee and unbuttoned flannel shirt, Lumba worked his way through the crowd and handed out mix compact discs following his victory. But the win didn’t matter as much to him as the opportunity to be around so many hip-hop peers.
“I’m just happy to be here,” Lumba said.
Most emcees weren’t happy to be paired up against Sitka’s Phonetic on the back of a tow truck for the freestyle battle. In the first round, Phonetic dispatched of his FUBU-jersey-wearing rival by closing his rhyme with the line: “I never sell myself short/This guy dresses like an athlete but he can’t even spell sport.”
Phonetic and fellow emcee Chris Fields breezed to the finals. But Fields, who got laughs by comparing one young rapper to Dave Chappelle, ran out of steam. Phonetic, on the other hand, controlled the mic and the crowd. The battle was based on crowd response and Juice host Akream of Artic Flow Records didn’t have a hard time deciding who got more cheers.
Phonetic, whose name is Sydney Eubanks, is hoping to use the attention to help promote his new album, “The Notebook,” which comes out in August. He also took home $100 and exacted some revenge for a loss last year that he felt wasn’t deserved.
“I lost last year but I really didn’t,” the 26 year old said. “I wanted to win this time.”
If Victamone, aka Victor Mangrobang, was upset about the turntable loss, he didn’t show it—probably because he said he is “more b-boy than DJ.” He started breaking in 1993. A friend visited from California and showed him some moves. At age 8, he was hooked. The 20 year old purchased his first turntables in 1999 but that was motivated by the fact that he and his friends could make their own dance mixes.
“We just wanted to get well-rounded in hip-hop,” he said. “I love it. Now Anchorage is finally building a little scene.”
Mangrobang and his crew, the Fantastic Force, competed against crews with names such as the DOA Funk Y’alls, the Powerplant Monkees, Broomstick and Mad Force. But the trio known as Free Patrol took home top honors from visiting judges Jermz, Jesseffecks and Thomas Origami, all whom compete for crews in the Northwest. DJ/B-boy Bles One of Seattle’s Massive Monkees crew provided the necessary beats for the competition. Bles said he liked the dancer’s skills and also the crowd’s support for the dancers.
“There are a lot talented b-boys and there is a good sense of unity,” he said while loading his gear into a pickup truck. “They’ve really got it together. And the community seems to be behind them. It’s really dope.”
It wasn’t just b-boys that competed. Three b-girls showed their skills including Krissy Sanchez of the Funk Y’alls crew. The undeniably cute West High student resembles Natalie Portman and isn’t much over 5 feet tall. But when she or a member of her crew busted a big move, Sanchez was quick to take a b-boy stance and stare down the competition.
Afterwards, Sanchez was all smiles because she had advanced past the first round for the first time in her short stint as a b-girl. The 16 year old has been dancing her whole life but only started breaking two-and-a-half years ago. She said she enjoys everything about being a b-girl, especially the energy and the community.
“The b-girl scene has really stepped up,” Sanchez said. “And Juice has grown a lot, too.”
PUBLISHED: 10:34 AM on Wednesday, July 6, 2005
Alaska's never been known as a hotbed for the hip-hop scene, but a recent competition in Anchorage showed that a growing number of rappers, DJs and break dancers are taking an interest in the burgeoning subculture-including Juneau's own DJ Astronomar.
"My main intent in going to the event was not to win, but to help the hip-hop scene in Alaska grow," said the disc jockey, otherwise known as 21-year-old Marlon Lumba. "I really wanted to interact with other members of the hip-hop community."
In addition to enjoying the company of other artists and fans, Lumba took first place in the DJ competition for the second year in a row. The contest was part of Juice 3, a hip-hop jam held on June 11th in the Tesoro Sports Centre parking lot alongside the second annual Drive Car Show.
Now in its third year, Juice attracts hip-hop talent from all over Alaska. Hosted by online site, illaska.com, which bills itself as the official urban Alaska community web site, the event allows rappers, DJs and break dancers to showcase their moves in front of a growing audience.
This year's DJ competition was a tight one, with DJ Astronomar going head-to-head with DJ Victamone of Anchorage. Tied after the final round, both DJs participated in a final 'scratch-off,' with Lumba taking home the title. "I think my sound is unique because living in Juneau, there aren't a lot of outside influences, so I've had to formulate my own style," he explained. "I've gathered what I could from CDs, but a lot of what I do is self-taught; I've had to develop my own methods."
Lumba works to spread the hip-hop sound throughout Southeast, hosting Monday Night Raw at the Alaskan Hotel and performing at other venues, including the Zach Gordon Youth Center. "I'm doing what I can to make hip-hop accessible-just like it got hold of me, it can get hold of others," he said. "Originally, there was only a small circle of us, but now hip-hop is beginning to branch out."
An employee of Capital Records, Lumba said that he first got into hip-hop about six years ago. "I was fascinated with the sound of scratching, and I loved it so much that I had to find my place in it," he said.
His place, as seen by this month's win at Juice, is at the top of Alaska's hip-hop scene.
Mao Tosi hits the ground running and he won’t stop. Too much is on the line. Too many of our youth would be left behind. Too much progress has been made to let a few small setbacks deflate his larger than life dream.Mao is a household name in the Alaskan community. Raised in Anchorage, the East Highschool graduate made a name for himself by excelling in athletics, particularly basketball and football. “Being involved in sports kept me out of a lot of trouble,” he says.
After highschool, he attended Butler Community College and the University of Idaho where he continued to play football. After college, he was drafted into the NFL where he had a short stint with the Arizona Cardinals.“I don’t know…..it just ended so quick and I was back to square one. Broke. No idea what I wanted to do…..hey, I tell the kids all the time, it’s okay. No matter what situation you’re in, you can figure it out” And Mao has figured it out.
Presently, he sits on the Mayor’s Gang Task Force committee. He has won a Chamber Award for his work with the youth. In 2006 he started the PRIDE club to combat gang activity and provide a safe and nurturing environment for teens.
The PRID E club, in partnership with nonprofit organization Communities in Schools, chartered an after school program at East High School. Over 80 students enrolled in the program, which met 3x a week. This arrangement ended just recently due to allegations that included poor records, lack of attendance, and accountability issues. (mostly kids from other schools started coming) “I’m not going to say that I couldn’t be a little more organized,” he notes, “but having other kids coming? Well….that’s GREAT…isn’t it?” he laughs.
Though the program has ended at East, it’s not the last of the PRIDE club.“I have a great team with me and we’re building from the ground up.” he says “We’re going to be strong. Build strong. Stay strong.”
In the meantime? He’s going to do what he does best. Connecting with today’s youth. Reaching out. Encouraging. Mentoring.“I have a commitment to these kids,” he states.
That commitment is evident. While the business plans are being restructured, Mao still organizes weekly events for the youth. It’s not unusual for him to pick up carloads of kids after school to take them to the rec center, or out for a bite to eat. Anything to keep them active and healthy, and more importantly, out of trouble.
Last summer, the PRIDE club reached out to over 700 youth by means of healthy and fun activities. Three days a week they would have excursions at Goose Lake. The weekends included sporting events in the Cellular One Center. This summer he means to do the same exact thing. One event in particular, is the “Wild about Youth” summer program which is in partnership with the Alaska Wild Football League who he signed on with in 2007.
Mao remains the consistent foundation of his own dream. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. When given just a little, he has proven he can make it stretch as far as it needs to. With each setback he faces, he pushes forward with tenacity. With his optimistic spirit and steadfast determination, the PRIDE club is soon to be a permanent fixture in Alaska.
Pen and paper have become a way of life for many rappers in the industry however, Jerremy Santacrose AKA AKream of Arctic Flow Records, doesn’t allow the lines of college ruled paper to restrict his creativity. After more than 15 years of rapping, sculpting his lyrical skills and nearly perfecting his craft, Akream has reached the point of paper-free song creation; a level of a ingenious that even the best fall short of. Making an exception to the rule that "practice makes perfect, "he has discovered his own recipe for musical success. The combination of his natural ability to flow, real everyday experiences, and an authentic yet exclusive style is what separates this artist from the rest.
At first glance he’s best described as simple and reserved, from his plain all white sneakers to his lax fitted jeans. On the contrary, his tracks are unique and filled with an unsuppressed realness a style that was developed through years of unspoken struggle and hardship. As the oldest of eight siblings, in a home far from "All American," AKream learned quickly the essence of Darwin’s theory that only the strong survive. Though his passion for hip-hop is indescribable, the realist with-in the artist recognized that above anythingelse existed the need to live. On track two of his album "Digital Penetration" he states, "Hip-hop's secondary to me, that means money comes first the game is carrying me." At a very young age the rapper was faced with what appeared to be his only two options: legitimate failure or illicit success. Attempting to go against the grain, Akream chased legitimate success and set out to California. He returned to Alaska with a song recording in one hand and a platform for Arctic Flow Records in the other. In early 2000 the artist redeveloped a relationship with present members Josh Boots, Soil Seed, and Nauseas after listening to their mixtape entitle “Star Spangled Grammar.” That reunion sparked the birth of Arctic Flow as we know it.
Arctic Flow Records has become a major success for both the artist and the Alaskan music scene. The Arctic Flow logo, a pitbull chained to an igloo, has become an iconic symbol not only because of its distinctness, but because of the talent and history it represents. The label is one of Akream’s two major victories. Ice Box Entertainment, another avenue for local talent, is the other. Unlike Arctic Flow, Ice Box Entertainment does not consist of emcees alone. After launching talented battle rapper Phonetic, his first artist signed to Ice Box, Akream acknowledged the need to diversify his vision and expanded to include a DJ and a production team. Ice Box Entertainment still continues to grow. The ambitious artist has many other endeavors anticipated for the near future some of which are not musically related. Stay tuned!!!
Although much of his visions are lived through others, the artist himself is an extraordinary lyricist. His talent, passion and natural ability to flow is illustrated through each of his tracks. From play to finish Akream provides his listeners with a musical journey. The architecture of his music is built much like a movie and is intended to be review from start to finish as a whole. The well thought out structure has developed a cult following, due to the relationship built through his songs. His musical influences include Three 6 Mafia in its 1995 era and Wu Tang Clan. His admiration comes from many aspects of their careers but above all is their ability to create music that is avoided by many and loved by few; yet the few followers’ are avid and overly devoted listeners. Their music is one of kind and is intended to strike the attention of an exclusive audience. He strives to construct a similar fan base and with each smashing hit released, he is brought closer.Akream, a name questioned by fan and cynic alike, is a mesh between the abbreviation of Alaska and the word cream.
While his name has its origination, it has also become synonymous with dedication and success. With his career on the rise, a much anticipated album release, and the development of both Arctic Flow and Ice Box Entertainment he is kept occupied. Even so, he finds time to strategize his next moves. Currently he is stirring up ideas and concepts for his next two albums. Akream’s skill, motivation and eagerness are contagious. The combination of those qualities is what has won the loyalty of his fans. He has certainly made a name for himself and on a larger scale; he has set a standard for all Alaskan Hip-Hop artists.
Talib Musiq Soulchild’s shining performance at the PAC on March 22nd was the quintessential R&B concert. The sold out crowd welcomed a humble and lighthearted Musiq who entered the stage in a dapper gray suit and introduced himself.
Starting with songs from his Luvanmusiq album, which he has been on tour to promote since its March 2007 release, he worked the crowd like the seasoned performer he is and had everyone clapping their hands in participation. Groups of people remained standing during the entire show, swaying gently to the beat. Even more people were singing along to every track verbatim.
Though a part of the audience was unfamiliar with his Luvanmusiq album they watched avidly while he sang “Ridiculous” and “Ms. Philadelphia. There seemed to be a bit of disconnection between some parts of the audience, not because they weren’t receptive to the new album, because they had difficulty hearing the lyrics on occasion.
This only seemed to be a bit of a hindrance during the first segment, because when he started singing familiar classics from his latter albums, everyone knew all the lyrics by heart and the tempo of the show skyrocketed.
After introducing his new album, Musiq took the audience on a sentimental journey through each one of his prior albums by singing a few standout tracks such as “Half Crazy” “Just Friends” “Soulstar” and my personal favorite, “Don’t Change”. He captivated the audience with his smooth textured and soulful voice, while creating an atmosphere that had everyone dancing in wild frenzy by the finale.
Known for his signature neo-soul style and 70’s inspired R&B vocals, Musiq’s strengths are in his ballads. When he sang “Love” a cappella it was one of those vulnerable performances you don’t usually get to see in person. It almost seemed invasive, like eavesdropping on someone singing in the shower.
As the hour concluded, the whole entire crowd was up on their feet singing their hearts out and dancing feverishly. The applause resonated wildly throughout the Atwood Center.
Musiq’s iconic performance once again proves that BD Productions continues their endeavor of “redefining entertainment in Alaska”