For the past several years, rapper A.B. Raps has been one of the most unique up-and-coming emcees in the Underground Hip-Hop scene of Houston, Texas. In a scene more commonly associated with artists such as the Geto Boys, UGK, and DJ Screw among others, A.B. Raps has made a name for himself incorporating witty lyrics and introspective themes into h…

For the past several years, D-Rell has been one of the most versatile up-and-coming emcees in New York's fabled underground Hip-Hop scene. D-Rell is no stranger to the culture and has spent the better part of the last eighteen years fine-tuning his craft. His love and appreciation for the art make him one of the most versatile, lyrically gifted emc…

Like clockwork, with every election cycle immigration becomes a lightning rod for politicians on both sides of the aisle to take advantage of and exploit. Beyond the empty often vitriolic rhetoric, seldom are the nuances, intricacies, and perhaps most importantly the shortcomings of the nation's immigration ever system truly explored in-depth by ou…

There is perhaps no artist in Hip-Hop's Underground scene more highly touted and revered than Felipe Coronel, better known by the stage name Immortal Technique. As one of the most prolific, self-made independent artists, for the past twenty-plus years Immortal Technique has explicitly used his music as a vehicle for politics. It goes without saying…

In our latest installment of Step Off! Radio, Stacey Uy of the Radical History Club returns to discuss her role as the founder, researcher, writer, and illustrator of the series. And discuss its humble origins, as well as what drove her to spotlight understudied historical legacies. We also discuss the importance of curating a curriculum for studen…

For the past several years, Sham Blak has made a name for himself as one of the most versatile emcees in San Diego’s Underground Hip-Hop scene. Originally hailing from Southeast San Diego, Sham has made it his mission to deliver raw, unapologetic Hip-Hop with the sensibilities of today’s modern audiences.Over the years Sham Blak has pulled influenc…

In the ever expanding realm of New York's infamous underground Hip-Hop scene artist S.K. Winter Yat has made a name for himself. Hailing from Washington Heights, Manhattan and pulling influence from legendary Hip-Hop artists such as Nas, Big Pun, and the Notorious B.I.G., S.K. Winter Yat has slowly built up a profile as a both a freelance journalis…

Since the rise of the Chicano Movement in the late 60s, Chicano artists have used a variety of mediums to express historical counter-narratives, encourage political activism, and educate communities. Fifty-three years ago on April 22, 1970, in San Diego, California the residents of Logan Heights, alongside a coalition comprised of hundreds of stude…

For the past several years, Chop the Father has been one of the most unique up-and-coming emcees in the Underground Hip-Hop scene of Houston, Texas. In a scene that is more commonly associated with artists such as the Geto Boys, UGK, and DJ Screw among others. Chop the Father has fired his own path. Pulling influence from legendary Hip-Hop artists …

It can be argued that with every passing year, groups and duos within Hip-Hop are increasingly becoming less common within the genre. As more more artists and producers opt for more solo careers or one-off collaborations, the sight of the quintessential Hip-Hop crew is now a rare sight . Challenging this notion however, are the Neighborhood Kids (A…

For the past several years, NVY JONEZ LKR (Navy Jonez Locker) has been one of the most unique up-and-coming emcees in the Southern California’s Underground Hip-Hop scene. Originally hailing from Williamsburg, Brooklyn the New York rhyme spitter has made it his mission to give music lovers a taste of "NY HIP-HOP", with the new sounds and delivery of…

With every passing year, groups and duos within Hip-Hop are increasingly becoming a rarity within the genre. Especially as more more artists and producers opt for more solo careers or one-off collaborations. Challenging this notion however, are rapper, KILLcRey and, producer, Gene Flo. Both hailing from San Diego, California (Barrio Logan and Chula…

Returning to Step Off! Radio, we are joined again by none other than emcee and singer Selene Selah. For close to the past decade Selene Selah has made her rounds in the underground Hip-Hop scenes of Los Angeles, California. Hailing from Hawthorne, California, Selene Selah regularly uses her platform to incorporate a blend of various philosophies fr…

For the past several years underground hip hop duo Indigenous Cats, composed of recording artists Ina and Calmplx (pronounced Complex), have made their rounds in the underground hip-hop scenes of Los Angeles, California. Drawing inspiration from classic Boom Bap Jazz, and Reggae, interwoven with with unique takes on decolonization; the duo’s incorp…

For the past five years musician and producer Accosta the Man has been one of the most unique, and prolific up-and-coming producers hailing from Southern California's Inland Empire (IE), comprised of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Pulling influence from legendary Hip-Hop groups and producers such as Cypress Hill, Jedi Mind Tricks and Adrian…

As one half of the Los Angeles based underground hip-hop duo Indigenous Cats (composed of himself and emcee/vocalist Ina), Calmplx Teteoquichtli has made a name for himself in the underground Hip-Hop scene of Southern California. Incorporating classic Boom Bap production interwoven with his unique takes on decolonization and the incorporation of In…

Since the rise of the Chicano Movement in the late 60s and early 70s, Chicano artists have used a variety of mediums to express historical counter-narratives, encourage political activism, and educate communities. Unsurprisingly, Chicano artists have continued this legacy of Chicanismo into today’s contemporary artistic and political movements—taki…

In our latest installment of Step Off! Radio, we had the chance to interview returning guest Native Threat, 1/2 of Indigenous-Chicano Rap duo Kozmik Force. Threat comes on the show to discuss his very latest solo project ‘Love Sharpened Arrows’, the latest effort in the Inland Empire-based emcee’s ever-growing catalog of work. Coming right on the h…

For more than thirteen years Matt Sedillo has been one of the most outspoken and uncompromising contemporary political poets in the United States. Born in El Sereno, California in 1981, Matt Sedillo writes from the perspective of a second-generation Chicano born in an era where a continually diversifying population has witnessed continually dwindli…

For close to three decades, Odessa Kane has been a constant and tireless figure in the local San Diego Underground Hip-Hop scene. As an emcee, graffiti writer, and B-boy the Southeast San Diego rap veteran has more earned the well-deserved status as an elder statesmen and icon in the local San Diego Hip-Hop scene. Born in Tijuana and raised in the …

For the past several years underground Hip-Hop Selene Selah aka Emcee Tr3s, has made her rounds in the underground Hip-Hop scenes of Los Angeles, California. Hailing from Inglewood, California and her family Tracing their roots to Colombia, the up-and-coming emcee regularly uses her platform to incorporate a blend of various philosophies from decol…

For the past seventeen years, Ric Scales, an Underground Hip-Hop artist from San Diego, California has made a name for himself in the region's Underground Hip-Hop scene. As an adept battle rapper and ½ of the duo 18 Scales, consisting of himself & emcee/producer Ralph Quasar (aka 18sense). Ric Scales has created a tapestry of sounds, ideas, and phi…

Three years ago, after much contemplation we here at Step Off! Magazine decided to branch out from the medium of print media and made the leap into the world of podcasting with a brand new podcast series. With little more than an iPhone and a Mac, we launched our official podcast of Step Off! Radio. We made it our mission to interview artists, perf…

For the past fourteen years, Azomali, an Underground Hip-Hop artist from Freeport, New York has made a name for himself in New York’s underground Hip-Hop scene. Like many of our guests previously featured here on Step Off! Radio, Azomali regularly incorporates philosophies of decolonization, pan-Indigenous unity across, and is a vocal critic of U.S…

For the past several years underground Hip-Hop group Indigenous Cats, comprised of recording artists Calmplx and Ina Eyeris have made their rounds in the underground Hip-Hop scenes of Los Angeles, California. Garnering a small but dedicated and growing audience online, the duo regularly incorporate philosophies of decolonization, pan-Indigenous uni…

We don’t normally have a lot of repeat guests on the show, but, for our latest edition of Step Off! Radio we have back on the podcast from our very first pilot episode Jaguar Arreola and Native Threat of Kozmik Force to talk about their latest EP 'Sound of a Weapon'. Since we had Jag and Threat on the show back in 2018, the duo has released several…

Over the past decade, Latino entertainers have been vocal proponents in advocating for better representation in Hollywood, even as a national discussion about diversity and access in film continues. Among this crowd of innovating entertainers is David Fernandez Jr., who over the past several years has made a name for himself in Hollywood as one of …

In our latest installment of Step Off! Radio, we bring to you a 'lost' episode from the Step Off! vaults. This episode with Tulengua was originally recorded last year on February 27th, 2020, to promote the release of their album, LOWKEYBANGERSVILLE. Shortly after this interview was recorded our computer crashed. We lost a bunch of material and seem…

In our latest installment of Step Off! Radio, and our first show of 2021, we had the chance to interview Stacey Uy and discuss her role as the founder, researcher, writer, and illustrator of the Radical History Club, a series of illustrated decolonized history zines that detail long-neglected areas of U.S. social history, focusing on the experience…

In our latest installment of Step Off! Radio, we had the chance to interview Jaguar Arreola, 1/2 of Indigenous-Chicano Rap duo Kozmik Force come on the show to discuss his very first solo project 'Maria’s Seed', the latest effort in the Inland Empire based emcee’s ever-growing catalog of work. Coming right on the heels of Kozmik’ Force’s third proj…

In our latest installment of Step Off! Radio we interview Juan Carlos Lozano, a musician, entrepreneur, and community organizer based out of San Diego, California. In our conversation we had the chance to discuss his background as a community organizer, as well as little about his backstory growing here in San Diego, and how the legacy of the U.S./…

For many artists, the COVID-19 pandemic has delivered an absolutely devastating blow to the creative arts scene. In a profession already often filled with highs, lows, and hardship, even in the best of times, the pandemic and the subsequent economic shutdowns over the past several months have been an absolutely devastating obstacle for many artists…

In our latest installment of Step Off! Radio, we had the chance to interview Beatrice Zamora, author of a brand new children's book The Spirit of Chicano Park / El espiritu del Parque Chicano, a new bilingual, children’s picture book written by Zamora and illustrated by artist Maira Meza that depicts the creation of the iconic landmark located in t…

In our latest installment of Step Off! Radio, we had the chance to interview Phoenix-based visual artist Edgar Fernandez also known as 8Ahau. Edgar Fernandez is a Chicano muralist and multi-disciplined artist from Phoenix Arizona. He was born in Los Angeles California in the early 90s and is the son of immigrant parents who migrated from Mexico to …

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De către Step Off! Radio

When discussing the pioneering figures of what would eventually come to be known as Chicano Rap, there is perhaps no group more iconic and more revered than A Lighter Shade of Brown. Formed in Riverside, CA, in 1990, when ODM (One Dope Mexican, born Robert Gutierrez) was introduced to DTTX (Don't Try to Xerox, born Bobby Ramirez); the duo was part …

Earlier this year we had the pleasure of talking with Tall Can, who you may remember from our second episode of the year back in February. Tall Can has once again returned to Step Off! Radio, this time as one-half of the duo Digital Dust Mites which consists of both Tall Can and Pawps the Medic; the group's producer and DJ. For the past several yea…

It is an understatement to say that Nate Whitsell is a wearer of many hats and of most versatile figures in the local San Diego Hip-Hop scene. He’s an emcee, a music journalist, an English teacher at Garfield High School and he is the founder of SDLovesHipHop.com; one of the premier online Hip-Hop publications based out of San Diego, California. As…

For years San Diego has cultivated small but dedicated Hip-Hop scene which has become increasingly more and more interconnected; and grown at a tremendous rate over the years. While there are hundreds, perhaps even thousands of various emcees, DJs and producers who regularly contribute to the local; one of it’s most dedicated and tireless advocates…

The Brown Berets as an organization can trace their origins back to East Los Angeles in the late 1960's at the height of the Chicano Civil-Rights Movement. At the time, many young Chicanos were struggling to make sense of their own cultural identity and were faced with daily acts of discrimination and even violence. Founded by David Sanchez in wake…

For more than a decade, Ramel Wallace, better know by his stage name Real J. Wallace has been a constant and tireless figure in the local San Diego Underground Hip-Hop scene. As a native born, self-taught San Diego artist, over the course of the past thirteen years Real J. Wallace has made the transition from the humble origins off an aspiring neig…

In the burgeoning, yet often overlooked Hip-Hop scene of San Diego perhaps, no voice is as unique and drive as dedicated as that of Jesse Cannon; better known professionally by his stage name Tall Can. For the past several years Tall Can has been producing his own unique brand Hip-Hop, cross pollinating genres, collaborating with producers from all…

In our latest installment of Step Off Radio, we interview local student journalist Katy Stegall of the Southwestern College Sun. Stegall’s coverage of last year’s hate rally staged by white nationalists in Chicano Park, dubbed ‘Patriot Picnic 2.0’ has by far been the most nuanced & critical analysis of the Chicano Park protests out of any news medi…

If there was one word that could perhaps best describe Blame One it would probably be Versatility. Throughout the years Blame One has donned quite a variety of different hats throughout the span of his extensive and at times rocky music career. As an emcee, graffiti writer and B-boy the North county Hip-Hop artist has more than earned the well dese…

As one of the best rising political cartoonists in the country, since 2009 Joaquin Junco Jr better known by his artist name Junco Canché has done political cartoons featured in publications such as El Coyote Crossing Borders the San Diego Free Press, La Prensa San Diego as well as the Southwestern College Sun; and most recently working as a regular…

Jacqueline Arellano, member of the human rights/immigration reform group Border Angels & director of the organization’s water drop hikes joins us for the second episode of Step Off! Radio to discuss Border Angel’s mission, the story behind her involvement in the org's water drops, organizing & activism along the U.S./Mexican border region of the Am…

Rap duo Jaguar & Bomb Threat, better known collectively as Kozmik Force join us in the pilot episode of Step Off! Radio to discuss the group's origins, activism through music, their debut mixtape 'War Cry', decolonization & Indigenous resistance/liberation across the America's in the age of Trump.De către Step Off! Radio