This weekend marks thr 8th Annual Hip-Hop 4 The Homeless/Haiti Benefit Weekend Saturday, Jan. 30, 4-10 p.m. at The Loft on Cherry in downtown Olympia.  It will provide an opportunity for the community to donate and contribute to support, relief and resource services for the homeless and needy of the Pierce, Thurston, Mason and Lewis counties and Haiti on behalf of our communities and the spirit and heritage of hip-hop culture.  Hip-Hop 4 The Homeless made a special addendum to the annual mission by including the people of Haiti as beneficiaries during this year's event. The benefit recommends a $5 donation for entry or canned foods and/or clothing items to benefit those in need.

The Hip-Hop 4 The Homeless benefit is an all-ages/family friendly event that features a who's who of Puget Sound area artists.  Interest was great from artists who wanted to voluntarily perform, however the 4-10 p.m. schedule on Saturday couldn't accommodate everyone. 

The 2nd Annual 25360 Awards will be announced and awarded Saturday at the Hip-Hop 4 The Homeless benefit show.

The following artists will take the stage and rock the spot at this year's Hip-Hop 4 The Homeless Benefit.

Jace/Ecaj [Silent Lambs Project/Black Stax] [206]

Junkyard Gang [360]

Wojack [253]

Afrok [360]

Jay Barz [253]

Josh Rizeberg [253]

Asliani [360/617/Boston]

Night Fox [360]

XP [360]

DJ Drastick [360]

DJ Turtledove [360]

DJ Slimrock [360]

DJ Dr. Rob [310]

& Guests

The 25360 Awards voting has ended

After much criticism, concern and commentary over this year's 25360 Awards, the votes have been collected, counted and all award recipients have been identified.  The results of the votes and selection of winners will be announced and the awards distributed at this year's Hip-Hop 4 The Homeless special intermission Saturday at The Loft on Cherry.  For more question/comments please email: hiphop@weeklyvolcano.com

CATEGORIES & NOMINEES (Voting ended Monday Jan. 25)

MC of The Year - Jay Barz, XP, Afrok and J-Mar Da Sik

DJ of The Year - DJ Drastic, DJ Hawkskee and DJ Dragonfish Killswitch, DJ Deadbeat

Man o f The Year - Eddie Sumlin, Lawrence Stone and Todd Denny

Woman of The Year - Stella Haioulani and Hilary Hacker

Promoter of The Year - Homeland Security, Crowd Control and Gerzee

Album of The Year - Be A G About It (J-Mar), Where In The World Is Taylor Jones (Junkyard Gang) and Truth & Medizine Muzik (Savage Family)

Song of The Year - "'80s Baby" - LA Swagga, "Shine Like Diamonds" - Afrok and "I'm Lazy" - Junkyard Gang

Video of The Year - Evergreen One & Todd Sykes

Producer of The Year - Big Squigg, Jacob Cundy, Norman Beats and Smoke

Best Come Up - Afrok

Best New Artist - LA Swagga and Night Fox

Hustla of The Year - Jay Barz (Can't stop... Won't stop!), Nicatine and XP

Nightclub of The Year - The Royal, Mossa and 6^th Ave (Tacoma)

Organization of The Year - Hip-Hop 4 The Homeless, The Center for Community Based Learning and Action, Hip-Hop Congress (Evergreen Chapter)

Best Radio Show/Host - DJ Kalambre (KAOS), DJ Luvva J (KAOS) and DJ La Pointe (KAOS)

Model of The Year - Miss Lady and Natasha Diva

Best Athlete - Jonathan Stewart (Carolina Panthers), Marvin Williams (ATL Hawks) and Marcus Trufant (Seattle Seahawks)

Best Music/Vinyl Shop - Rainy Day Records (Olympia)

Best Eatery - Old School Pizza, The Fish House Café, The Teriyaki Spot in Tillicum, Ramblin' Jacks and The Taco Truck

We remember and will not forget - R.I.P. Apache

Life is short. Apache the MC from New Jersey's brick city died last week of health complications. He will be missed.  The MC who freaked tracks for Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit label was most famous for his Top 20 Charting single, "Gangsta B***h" in 1993 off of his album, Apache Ain't S**t.

His first and only major market album, Apache Ain't S**t, left an indelible mark on my mind for his gangsta posturing, lyricism and realism as well as his dually valuable social commentary and sense of expression. Remember, Apache is from the era where so-called gangsta rap was accompanied by political, social and cultural commentary. He rapped about feelings of race, poverty and other socially potent subject matter that accompanies the life of a child in Anyhood, USA - but he did it from JERSEY!  Big up, Apache. 

Also, he is appropriately credited with his masterful lacing of the classic track, "5 Deadly Venoms" with two other lyrical legends - Tupac Shakur and Treach of Naughty By Nature (popularly regarded as one of the best lyricists of the early ‘90s).  Apache was first featured on DJ Mark The 45 King (inventor of ‘The 900 Number' - signature sound of ‘The Ed Lover Dance') presents The Flavor Unit... but he will be forever remembered for needing a ‘Gangsta B***h'.  Peace to Apache, he elevated the game during his time as an MC.

Until next time... Stay up!  PEACE.

Winners Train, Losers Complain... Do Yo' Thang!!!

Peace & Love
 

Jose S. Gutierrez Jr. aka DJ LUVVA J is an award-winning editor, writer, producer, educator, music director and consultant.  A graduate of Washington State University and student at The Evergreen State College, he writes and edits the Pacific Northwest section of Ozone Magazine and hosts and produces Live From I-5 Radio (since '89) on The KAOS Block Party every Friday at 3 p.m. on KAOS 89.3 FM where he is the Music Director (www.kaosradio.org / Comcast Ch. 982 / TCTV Ch. 22) in Olympia.

hiphop@theweeklyvolcano.com

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