Chyke.Nd and Kris Rhymes (THISnTHAT Podcast)
THISnTHAT Podcast
Nigeria/ South Phoenix | Nigeria/USA
ThisnThat podcast is a debate/conversation on social, political, sports, entertainment and trending topics of our generation. We go in depth on the issues hopefully to spark dialogue and invoke the important conversations that need to be had through our opinionated perspectives served with a side of humor.
DJ Leydis
DJ/Activist
Oakland | Cuba
Born and raised in Cuba, DJ Leydis combines contemporary hits with a distinct fusion of Latin flavors, R&B classics, and roots reggae blends. Involved in the Cuban hip-hop movement since its inception, DJ Leydis helped organize some of the country’s most respected and best-attended events and community programs. In 2005 she cofounded Omegas Kilay, a hip-hop theater collective in Havana focused on presenting the poetry, music, experiences, and perspectives of artists such as DJ Yari, Danay Suarez, Nono, La LLave De IPG, La Negra, and Las Krudas. DJ Leydis co-created the first all-female DJ mixtape in Cuba, contributing a special blend of new flavor and spirit to the international community. In 2006 DJ Leydis migrated to United States to expand upon her work as a DJ and has worked with Erykah Badu, Quest Love of the Roots, and other iconic US-based artists.
Gbedu Town Radio
Dance/Music
Planet Bakanal
Over-articulated and barely translated, ‘Gbedu Town Radio’ is a Pan Afro-Urban Drumline & Dance Squad for the culture featuring a dynamic group of performers of diverse African heritage. GTR explores social themes through popular and folkloric rhythms, dance, and expressions with the stylings of Afrobeats, Dancehall, Reggaeton, Coupé-Décalé, Southern & Bay Area Hip hop.
Blackcherry
Dancer/Choreographer
Paris | Central Africa Republic
BlackCherry: Dancer and teacher. She began to dance when she was child. After many years of dance, she shares now her experiences of African culture and dance.
ReginEld Edmonds
Poet
Oakland | USA
Reggie Edmonds (They/Them) is a poet, educator, and cultural curator based out of Richmond, CA. They are the co-founder of Rich Oak Events which organizes the Oakland Poetry Slam, the Berkeley Poetry Slam, the Rich Oak Alchemy Slam, and the online platform Bay Poets Unite. Their poetry can be found in Rigorous Magazine, Stentorian Bitch, Foglifter Journal, and 2 self published chapbooks I’m Too Black for the Shxt (2017), and Sad Boi (2019).
Kalif (GALAKTiQ)
Recording Artist
Houston | NIgeria
Kalif Bakare, born and raised in Alief, Texas is a former Division 1 basketball player, fashion connoisseur, musician/producer, creative director, actor, & model. A jack of all trades, he has always managed to trend-set and stay ahead of the curve. He is the Co-Founder of GF Universal, LLC in which he created the imprint to house his business, humanitarian, and creative interests.
As a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc, “serving and transcending all” has always been a facet of his. Annual events are curated for the betterment of the youth and community as part of GF Universal Community Outreach program.
With a degree in Business Administration from University of Texas-San Antonio, Kalif is balancing his service for others, business ventures, and his artistic vision to cultivate a crossover appeal that is rare while positively impacting all corners of the world.
DJ Kream
DJ/Vibe Vanguard
Oakland | USA
Bijou McDaniel is an Oakland native who is making a name for herself in the local scene with her signature genre-mixing DJ style. After attending The Academy of Art in San Francisco and working various jobs from Visual Merchandiser to Non-profit Development Fundraiser, Bijou acted on one of her life-long passions and turned it into art form never looking back. Since her debut at the Oakhella Festival which she also Co-Founded, DJ Kream has curated grooves at nightclubs, art receptions, day parties, festivals, and corporate events.
KimikoVersatile
Dancer/Choreographer
St. Ann | Jamaica
Kimiko Miller, also known as KimikoVersatile, is originally from St. Ann, Jamaica. She began dancing professionally in 1998 at Naggo Head Primary School. By the time she got to high school, she was being trained in modern contemporary, Jazz, Folk, Hip Hop, and Folk. While doing this, she had the privilege of attending the Ashe Performing Arts Company where she was being trained by some of the greatest choreographers in Jamaica and also participated in dance, drama, music, and edutainment.
She further went on to study dance at the Edna Manley of the Visual and Performing Arts in 2005 where she received her diploma in Dance theatre and production and in 2011, she earned her Bachelor Of Fine Arts in Choreography and Performance.
Piwai
Singer/SongWriter/ Mbira Player & Percussionist
Richmond CA | Zimbabwe
Piwai’s chilling vocals and hypnotic sound have been described as spiritual nirvana. A captivating performer, she bends genres to seamlessly ow from jazz, reggae or folk to pure African rhythms, moving listeners to physically feel her music, creating a trance-like rhythm that balances consciousness.Piwai wows audiences across the globe with her soulful voice and genre-fusing melodies. Fondly known as the girl with the African thumb piano, the mbira, Piwai was born and raised in Zimbabwe. Her love of music is influenced by her multicultural Southern Africa and gospel exposure in early childhood. During and after college years in the US, Piwai trained as a jazz vocalist at the Jazz School of Berkeley. She’s studied with world-renowned vocalists such as Vernon Bush, Raz Kennedy, Maye Cavallaro, and Frankye Kelly. Piwai has since been under the tutelage of maestros and the incomparable percussionist, Yagbe Onilu, and conguero, Butch Haynes. Piwai collaborates regularly with Fantastic Negrito, playing percussion on his 2017 Grammy Award winning album “Last Days of Oakland"
NADÉEYA GK
Dancer/Choreographer
Paris | Cameroon
NADÉEYA GK is a Cameroonian dancer, Italian by adoption based in France. She presents an atypical artistic journey: Her first steps are from traditional Cameroonian dances and gets close to Hip Hop culture on her arrival in Europe (Italy and France). She falls in love with House dance and decides to devote herself to it. She took open dance classes in various dance studios in France and travelled as well to gain more knowledge. Today, she presents a House Dance with an "African accent" as she likes to say.
In her quest for movement, Nadeeya opens up to the richness of African gestures and approaches Krump dance. Her movements are therefore charged with energy at the crossroads of African culture and the western urban movement.
Yung Phil & The Turffeinz
Dancer
Oakland, CA
The hard hitting spitting image of the Bay Area...We are the turffeinz the most known dance group out of Oakland, california. You’ve might’ve seen us on many commercials, videos, and appearances. We have such a deep love for Oakland and the culture so we show it through our dance, The ups and downs the good the bad and everything in between. We showcase emotions through our dance everytime we touch the floor. If you have heard about us then you have heard about dancing in the rain Rip rich D it has over 8 million views and it impacted the dance culture in Oakland. We create new dance moves such as the Smeeze, mobby, etc. this is the 1-3 generations of the Turffeinz and the Turffeinz name won’t be leaving soon.
Mestre Mario Pam e Tambores do Mundo
Percussionist, Composer, Music Teacher, Coordinator of Tambores do Mundo, Musical Director Bloco Ilê Aiyê, Collaborator of NGO CCOR, Militant and Researcher of Afro Brazilian Music. With Ilê Aiyê recorded 3 discs and a DVD, participated in phonographic recordings with the artists: Arto Lindsay (EUA / BR), Daniela Mercury (BR), Yerba Buena (EUA), Creole (BR), Maira Freitas (BR), Lucia de Carvalho (ANGOLA / FR), Bjork (ICELAND) and Tambores do Mundo.
em portugues:
Percussionista, Compositor, Professor de Música, Coordenador do Tambores do Mundo, Diretor Musical Bloco Ilê Aiyê, Colaborador da Ong CCOR, Militante e Pesquisador da Música Afro Brasileira. Com o Ilê Aiyê gravou 3 discos e um DVD, participou de registro fonográficos com os artistas: Arto Lindsay (EUA/BR), Daniela Mercury (BR), Yerba Buena (EUA), Crioulo (BR), Maira Freitas (BR), Lucia de Carvalho (ANGOLA/FR), Bjork (ISL NDIA) e Tambores do Mundo.