Step Off! Radio

When discussing the pioneering figures in Hip-Hop, there is perhaps no artist who exemplifies longevity more than Masta Ace. For over thirty years, Masta Ace has released a steady stream of solo albums and collaboration projects that have solidified his status as one of the most talented and consistent artists in the genre. With well over a dozen releases to his name, perhaps no album in his disco...

Returning to Step Off! Radio, we are joined again Calmplx and Ina of Hip-Hop duo Indigenous Cats, who returned to the show to discuss the release of their latest album Indigenious State of Mind. Nearly six years after the release of their mixtape Traveling Souls Project, Plx and Ina dive into the recording process of their most intimate and personal project yet. During our talk on the show, we cat...

Returning to Step Off! Radio, we are joined again by none other than emcee Jag Arreola of Kozmik Force who returns to the show to discuss his latest album ‘Unmasked’. More than five years after the release of his debut solo album 'Maria's Seed', Jag is back with his intimate and personal project yet to date. During our talk on the show we catch up with Jag to talk about the album, his experience a...

More than twenty-five years ago Brother Ali stepped on the music scene in the early 2000s as a fresh-faced emcee. As a noted community activist and an early member of Atmosphere’s Rhymesayers Entertainment hip-hop collective, the acclaimed Minneapolis-based independent record label, Brother Ali quickly gained a reputation as one of hip-hop’s most outspoken and profoundly authentic artists for his...

Since October 7th, 2023, the world has borne witness to some of the most horrific images broadcast from Gaza, in what is perhaps the first genocide to be broadcast live across social media. Over the past thirteen months, we have all seen some of the most vile videos and imagery that have brought the brutality of Israeli apartheid in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Likewise, we have also see...

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 his music. Pulling influence from legendary Hip-Hop...

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 emcees both on the East and the West Coast. With a vi...

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 our public leaders and officials. However, for decad...

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 most of Technique's music focuses on issues perta...

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 students that not only challenges false narratives but c...

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 influence from a plethora of classic artists and his peer...

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 journalist and an adept emcees. Having worked with artists...

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 students, community activists, Brown Berets, and Movimi...

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 such as Big L, Nas, and the Notorious BIG, Chop th...

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 (Amon the Emcee, Verde, DJ JG, Niko Rosy, Gatoz Loco...

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 for today’s audiences. Having With toured and p...

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 Vista). Together the rapper/producer duo makeup T...

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 from decolonization, to Indigenous empowerment, and...

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 incorporation of Indigenous empowerment in their music h...

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 Younge; Accosta the Man has incorporated his love...

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 Indigenous empowerment in his music. In his second s...

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—taking the moment to express political autonomy, cultu...

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 heels of Kozmik’ Force’s EP ’Sound of a Weapon’ whi...

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 dwindling opportunities and the deterioration of both the...

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 Paradise Hills, the Mexicano-Filipino emcee earned...