Step Off! Radio

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 the neighborhood of Barrio Logan in San Diego, California. Originally born in Barrio Logan, Zamora was raised in the city of La Puenta in the eastern region of L.A. county. She eventually returned to San Diego in 1979 to complete her Master’s program at San Diego State University and donned a variety of hats in the community of Barrio Logan and beyond ever since. In our discussion, we had the opportunity to talk with Beatrice about her early life growing up in Los Angeles, and her journey that ultimately brought her back to Barrio Logan. Likewise, we also discuss her tenure as an instructor teaching La Danza Mexi’cayotl, traditional Azteca-Chichimeca Dance, and how her career in academia and involvement community organizing would ultimately play into here affinity for writing and inspire to her write a book dedicated to the history of Chicano Park. In addition, we also discuss the importance of representation in children's literature and the significance that the legacy of Chicano Park still maintains fifty years after its founding. With that said, we hope that you all enjoy our discussion with Beatrice Zamora on Step Off! Radio

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 the United States in the 1980’s. Coming of age in Phoenix, Edgar expressed himself through his love of graffiti and Hip-Hop culture which would further drive his love for creating art, eventually taking art classes Phoenix College. Edgar would continue his education at the ASU School of Art, where he transferred to after receiving the Chicanos por la Cause scholarship. Edgar Fernandez is part of the latest generation of Chicano muralist, whose art is rooted in a position that is decidedly pro-Indigenous and exuberates a strong sense of Chicano identity. His depictions of Meso-American art, culture, and folklore; intermixed with contemporary American politics, pop culture, Chicano culture, and modern art movements such as graffiti which make his art a one of kind spectacle that pushes the long and decorated legacy of Mexican and Mexican-American muralist in fine American art. In our discussion, we had the opportunity to talk with Edgar about his early life growing up in Los Angeles, Michigan, and eventually settling in Phoenix, Arizona. His experience as a child discovering his artistic talents drawing cartoon characters, his venture into Phoenix's graffiti scene. Likewise, we also had the opportunity to discuss his thoughts on the increasing mainstream popularity of Mexican culture within broader U.S. culture, cultural appropriation vs. cultural appreciation, and the role that artists play in today's deeply partisan and divided society. With that said, we here at Step Off! Radio hope that you all enjoy our discussion with Edgar Fernandez aka 8Ahua.

In our latest installment of Step Off! Radio we interview Oree Originol, an acclaimed Oakland based visual artist Justice For Our Lives, an open-source digital portrait series of people who have been killed by US law enforcement. Since 2014, inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement Oree’s bold artwork of black and white portraits has served as pivotal instruments in supporting families of those unjustly killed at the hands of police and who are fighting for justice against state-sponsored terrorism in the United States. Over the past six years, Oree’s artwork has been reproduced and disseminated worldwide in public demonstrations, protests, classrooms, art galleries, as street art, and online through numerous social media platforms and websites. In our discussion, we had the opportunity to talk Oree’s early life growing up in North-East Los Angeles, his experience as a child discovering his artistic talents drawing cartoon figures in school, the gang culture of 90s era Los Angles which permeated his neighborhood which would inspire him to seek recognition as a graffiti artist & increased visibility as a tagger in L.A.’s graffiti scene. As well as his eventual journey into activism following his move to Oakland in 2009 which has ultimately culminated into Justice For Our Lives where he continues developing his art and activism; sharing his skills with the Bay Area community and beyond. With that said, we here at Step Off! Radio hope that you all enjoy our discussion with Oree Originol.

In our latest installment of Step Off! Radio we interview former co-host José Cortés, who is running in California's 50th Congressional District located in the southern portion of the state and includes much of San Diego County and portions of Riverside County. As a candidate running on the ballot for the Peace and Freedom Party of California, Cortés joins a crowded field of candidates which includes Democratic candidates Ammar Campa-Najjar and Marisa Calderon. Republican candidates Carl DeMaio, Darrell Issa, Brian Jones, and Nathan Wilkins, as well as Independent candidates Helen Horvath, Lucinda Jahn, and Henry Ota. Since 2016, José Cortés has been on the front lines of the fight against police brutality, concentration camps, and the exploitation of low-income tenants. He has helped organize for national liberation in Barrio Logan alongside Chicano Park defenders, he stands in solidarity with the struggle for socialism in Venezuela and Cuba, and he supports the right of self-determination and reparations for the people of Hawaii, Puerto Rico and all nations oppressed by U.S. imperialism and colonialism. We had the chance to catch up with José, and discuss the campaign he and his team have been running in the fiftieth district, talk about what platforms he’s running on, what stances he would take as an elected member of Congress, discuss the nuances of running as a socialist candidate here in the United States. As well as discuss the unique challenges the campaign poses as the lone Chicano candidate in the race running in a district that historically has been a conservative stronghold and has not historically been known for any sort of progressive representation. We hope you guys enjoy the episode and I really hope that you guys keep rocking with us as we go into 2020 as well as our second year here on Step Off! Radio. We got a lot of really cool guests and new stories that we’re looking forward to telling here in 2020. With that said, we at Step Off! Radio hope that you all enjoy our discussion with José Cortés.

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 of an explosion of Latin Hip-Hop groups and artists to rise to prominence in the late 1980s and early-'90s; joining the likes of Mellow Man Ace, Kid Frost, Proper Dos, Aztec Tribe, Hi-C, Delinquent Habits, Fundoobiest, Psycho Realm & Cypress Hill among a cavalcade of others to rise to prominence in the early part of the decade. Over the course of nine years, the duo released a string of five albums and provided songs for films such as Mi Vida Loca, Bulletproof and I Like It Like That and penning some of the most iconic songs in the Chicano Rap sub-genre. While the duo didn't quite become household Hip-Hop names, or reach the level of mainstream success as some of their contemporaries; Lighter Shade of Brown was nonetheless a groundbreaking duo that not only helped break down barriers for Chicanos in Hip-Hop during the early 90s but Latino emcees of various backgrounds across the nation. Having paved the way and helped create an entirely new lane for modern Chicano rappers to follow Lighter Shade of  Brown's status and contributions to Hip-Hop are forever cemented in their music and their legacy; their music is still enjoyed by countless fans to this very day. We had the chance to talk with ODM and discuss the origins of the group, the history behind some of their most iconic songs, the rise, decline, and resurgence of Lighter Shade of Brown, as well the days leading up to DTTX's tragic passing in 2016. With that said, we are proud to present the twelfth episode of Step Off! Radio with ODM of Lighter Shade of Brown.

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 years since 2012, both Tall Can and Pawps have been producing their own unique brand of Hip-Hop as the Digital Dust Mites, recording dozens of songs, having amassed an extensive catalog of music for a variety of projects, albums, EP’s and singles. Tall Can and Pawps came on the show to talk about their brand new album the Lost Frequencies LP as well as discuss the humble origins of the group, the development of their unique sound, their thoughts on the current state of affairs regarding politics and social activism in Hip-Hop as well as their here experiences here in the local San Diego Hip-Hop scene and upcoming musical endeavors. With that said, we are proud to present the eleventh episode of Step Off! Radio with Tall Can and Pawps the Medic aka Digital Dust Mites

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 an educator, artist and music journalist he has been determined to increase readership in the local San Diego Hip-Hop community that believes in the power of Hip-Hop to serve as a sounding board for the masses. Since founding the website 2015, SDLovesHipHop.com has served as a platform to publicly facilitate a conversation about Hip-Hop music and culture as well as a catalyst for real, meaningful change; both in the lives of individuals and in our own greater communities abroad. Single-handedly and methodically documenting the music, culture and countless individuals who participate in and enjoy the art form all across the region. We had the pleasure of sitting down Nate where we got discuss among other things; his experiences and inspirations from his early life and childhood, as well as the origins of his early music and journalism career. Likewise, we also got to discuss his thoughts and experiences as an educator in the San Diego Unified School District, his thoughts on the constantly growing and expanding local San Diego Hip-Hop scene, as well as what the immediate future holds for SDLovesHipHop.com and his music. With that said, we are proud to present the tenth episode of Step Off! Radio with Nate ‘KnewBalance’ Whitsell.

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 is none other than producer of theme music DJ Root. DJ Root of the No Sucker DJs Crew returned to Step Off! Magazine making his first appearance on Step Off! Radio to discuss the growth of the San Diego local Hip-Hop scene, the upcoming fifth anniversary of the San Diego Battle-Bot competition and as well as the region’s contributions to the bigger discussion on Hip-Hop’s influence on society. Likewise, we also got to discuss the genre’s ability of spreading awareness and social conscious through the power of music, culture, and the power of uplifting and empowering our communities. With that said, we are proud to present the seventh episode of Step Off! Radio with DJ Root

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 of the 1968 East L.A. Student Walkouts the Brown Berets were formed with the intention to help the Chicano community, specifically organizing against police brutality, inadequate public schools, farm worker’s struggles as well as anti-war activism. And since their founding numerous autonomous chapters have sprung up across the United States. The National in Barrio Logan were one of several antonymous chapter founded during the 1970’s and remains one of the most prominent and active chapters operating in the country today. 

For close to fifty years the National Brown Berets de Aztlán have been defenders of the Barrio and vanguards of Chicano Park. It’s no coincidence that the history and politics of the Brown Berets can be seen across the walls of Chicano Park, adorning a myriad of murals painted throughout the years. In April of 1970, alongside a coalition of students, community activists, Barrio residents and others from nearby neighborhoods, through militant force and occupation the National Brown Berets de Aztlán helped liberate the land that would eventually become Chicano Park. After a twelve-day occupation, the eventual liberation of Chicano Park was not only a defining moment in Chicano history and the City of San Diego; it was also a defining moment that helped cement the Brown Berets as the paramilitary arm of the Chicano Power movement throughout the rest of the 1970s. Now, almost fifty years later Chicano Park is not only a monument to Chicano empowerment and self-determination; it has served as the home base for the Brown Berets.

For this very special episode of Step Off! Radio we had the pleasure of interviewing members of the National Brown Berets de Aztlán, recorded right in the heart of Barrio Logan’s historic Chicano Park. We spoke with Unit Commander Eddie Alvarez, Officer of Aztlán Desiree McFadden and Officer of Aztlán Mike Geck. We had a chance to discuss the origins of the chapter, the role the Berets played in the founding of Chicano Park, their dedication to the defense & advancement of Barrio Logan & Chicano people, the Beret’s work within the community that they are helping address, as well as what the future holds for the National Brown Berets de Aztlán. We want to remind listeners that this interview was recorded at Chicano Park, a week prior in preparation of Chicano Park Day, the sounds and noises that you hear in the background are the sounds of community.

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 neighborhood freestyler to a prominent, local indie Hip-Hop innovator and finally into a celebrated and respected community leader. With his unique blend of classic Hip-Hop storytelling and eclectic production style incorporating jazz, soul and blues into his music, it goes without saying that Real J. Wallace has paved his own unique lane that sets him apart from nearly all of his musical peers in the greater San Diego area. With music showcasing his own sense of down to earth humility and cosmic spirituality; accompanied with soulful Golden era style production, through his music Real J. Wallace brings a unique perspective chronicling the vivid realities of the common man laced with the esoteric intricacies of the mysterious and the unexplored realms of our realities. We had the pleasure of sitting down with Real J. Wallace for a second time where we got discuss among other things; his experiences and inspirations from his early life and childhood, as well as the origins of his then fledgling music career. Likewise, we also got to discuss his latest projects in the works, his thoughts on the ever increasing threat of gentrification that threatens to lay siege on Barrio Logan and other communities across Southeast San Diego, the artistic movement currently blooming inside Barrio Logan, his latest position as a member on the board of the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art, as well as what the immediate future holds for him and his music. We hope you all enjoy our discussion with the one and only Real J. Wallace.