//We *heart* Oakland

What's in a place? Why do we humans so often devote so much energy to repping where we are from? Why is it so much a source of pride? T-shirts, songs, war... Where you from, where you been, where you at? In Be Kind Rewind, Jerry flips on Mike talking bout "What's so great about this city? Why do you even care about it so much?" To which Mike responds,

"The people."

And that my people, is the story. Oakland's not about the Lake or the Coliseum or the AT-AT cranes at the Port. We don't even own that stuff. It's about the people.. Oakland is Barbara Lee and Boots Riley and Pam the Funkstress and Del the Funky Homosapien. Oakland is Raphael Saadiq and Keyshia Cole and Kirby Dominant and En Vogue and the Black Panthers. Oakland is Ledisi and Goapele and Bruce Lee and Mac Dre.

Oakland is the O.G. veteran teachers my first year teaching at Calvin Simmons Middle School way back when. Oakland is that 6th grader we had way back then who was gunned down last week at age 22. Oakland is that 6th grader we had way back then who is at UCLA on a Fulbright. Oakland is the dudes on San Leandro Blvd & High St. waiting to hop on the back of a truck to go on a day job. Oakland is the Persian homie with the fronts at the Seminary Gas station who would give me the playa price on a pack of American Spirits when my wife would make me go buy them (thanks for quitting love). Oakland is San Francisco, Richmond, Berkeley, Alameda and the The Whole Damn Yay too. Oakland is Manila, Managua, Reykjavík, Chicago, Brooklyn..and so on and so forth.

Come thru to WE LOVE THE TOWN this Friday.. it's a celebration of us, the people, and we got mad love for The People! Plus we got free stuff from Oaklandish and OakBook too so you can show your love on your sleeve!

In parting, here's a coupla sure shots from one of The Town's greats, whose new LP drops this September. 1neluv.

Raphael Saadiq "100 Yard Dash" (Sony, 2008)


Raphael Saadiq "Different Times (live at the LA House of Blues f/Ledisi & Goapele)" (Pookie, 2003)




DJ ZITA (B.A.S.S.)
DMADNESS (Knowmadic DJs)

Classic Hip Hop, Dancehall & Oaktown Love!

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