Tonight "Finding Our Balance" by Tsoh Tso & Friends won a Viola Award for "Excellence in Music." To be honest, I didn't plan on submitting anything this year, but I found out that some of my friends did it anyway. Part of me almost wanted to find an excuse to not make it out, but one of the last things my Grandma said to me was "you represent us now" and that stuck with me. All in all I didn't expect to win anything, and I was just there to enjoy the evening. I'm thankful for the support of my friends, and family.
Speech:
My intention with this album was to tell a small piece of my story, ranging from a little Navajo boy who didn't know anything, into an adult who's still trying to figure it out. My goal was to highlight my experiences having feet in multiple worlds, and the challenges that came with it; be that life, death, identity, home, and everything that comes in-between. There were times I probably could have lost myself but I had great people behind me; My Grandparents, my Wife, my family by blood, and my chosen family. All of that being said, life can be a lot, but throughout the journey I was fortunate to find music. I made my first beat when I was 18, and today I'm 33. Somehow I've managed to make a life's work of art with my friends that's a both reflection of ourselves and the people around us. Hip-Hop is where I found my footing, my confidence, and my sense of self. It's where I found community. Even though This was the first full length album was released under my name, but it wouldn't exist without community. Tonight I'm thankful to stand here representing not only Northern Arizona Hip-Hop, and Indigenous music, but also my family, and my loved ones who have passed away. I hope to see even more Indigenous art from across the entire continent on this stage in the future, because as cities grow, and administrations change, we're collectively among the first people to get pushed out. From the Sunnyside to Tuba City, there's stories being written right now that deserve an audience. "Finding Our Balance" is an album about facing uncertainty, but making it happen. It's an album about forced resilience, quiet confidence, and the kinship at home.
These videos are the most I've ever talked about these topics. It's weird, but I chose to address them on the album. I think it's only fair to go a little deeper for the folks who supported it.
The set time changed a little so here's a new post to reflect it haha
On 6/6 I will be performing with @aricfroggyfrog , @king_iiwaa , and @skunkflwr at @flagstaff_hullabaloo at 6:45pm
This is four days before my birthday, and is the closest I've ever come to doing a birthday show haha if you're out and about come say hi. I will be rapping and dusting off the MPC. Aric will be my DJ. iiwaa and Amber will be contributing their voices to some songs we've done together. It will be fun.
Last show before I turn 34.
4 days before my birthday. This will be my last show as a 33 year old. I will be committing to rapping for most of this set, but I'll also be sprinkling some MPC beat performance stuff too. Aric Froggy Frog will be my show DJ, and this will be the first time anyone's deejayed for me (even as I've started doing Tsoh Tso sets I've always deejayed myself). iiwaa is joining me so we can dust off our 2021 sleeper banger, "Circadian" and Amber is joining me to perform "Small Talk" for the first time ever.
@smallz.illa , @fangoverfist and I are going to try our hand at hosting a Hip-Hop (and R&B because they're cousins) centric Open Mic at @thehiveflg . They're happening on the second Sunday of the month from July to September. We've all done our showcases, residencies, and one off shows, but to our knowledge this will be the first Open Mic to focus on Hip-Hop music.
Our first one is 7/12/16 from 6pm to 8pm.
It's free to sign up, and free to attend. I'll bring my DJ setup, and we'll have an open aux, open usb for anyone who wants to play their own original track, demo, or beat. We'll also have a mic setup for anyone who's ready to rap or sing either over an instrumental or acapella (I'm personally encouraging people to ween off of 100% vocal tracks). Please come through, spread the word, and hang out. Original music only.
The idea literally is just to have a community performance space that isn't an actual show where we can just hang out, and listen to each other.
The other day I was told that The Hive's portion of the Radiance Art Market was essentially "Hive Fest" and that Fang Over Fist crew was deemed a piece of the puzzle. That little whisper made me happy.
Here is a picture of Clint, Tré, Devon (in the back, you're still FOF mf ❤️), and myself during the first show we ever booked at the venue in 2014.
FOF hosted shows there from 2014 up until the pandemic shut everything down. It's where I personally learned how to grit my teeth as a showrunner. We hosted full shows, rap battles, producer nights, DJ performance sets, people on tour, and locals alike. It was a conscious effort to have all ages Hip-Hop shows in a town dominated by bars. Some nights were poppin, and other nights it was just me, and the performers. It was always love for me though.
Even though I haven't been involved, I've watched The Hive from the sidelines as it's grown, and evolved since the world opened back up. I don't know the young people there, but I'm still proud of them alongside Urian and Alec. Keep that mf going. Thanks for always having us.
Id like to host something there again, but I'm just figuring out what haha
📷: @rmego96_ 😭🥹🥰
Dookʼoʼoosłííd is in the background. I don't pretend to know very much when it comes to Diné beliefs and teachings, but one thing I do know personally is that this mountain is one of my tethers that keeps me grounded, and connected when things start heading astray.
Thankful to be a part of the Radiance Community Arts & Music Market hosted by @thehiveflg which is a piece of this year's @artxarizona
Flagstaff Hip-Hop 🎤
📷: @kaalogii.jini
