SANTA BARBARA — On Friday, May 10, student-run community radio KCSB-FM 91.9 welcomes OSHUN, JAJI PREME and JUPITER BLACK for a night of otherworldly, Soul-infused Hip-Hop on the campus of UCSB. The free all-ages show will take place at 6pm in the Courtyard of the radio station under Storke Tower.
“Jaji Preme, Jupiter Black, and Oshun all offer unique perspectives on their experiences of being black, queer and femme in today’s society. Their lyricism and video production are critical of politics, gender, spirituality; they artistically convey agency, and influence others to choose their own path to expression,” said KCSB General Manager Alyssa Saldaña.
OSHUN is an independent Hip-Hop/Soul duo from New York described as the sonic manifestation of Afrofuturism, where the African Diaspora aesthetic merges with technology. Recent graduates of NYU, singers Niambi and Thandiwe write about the importance of knowing one’s own history and the experience of being black women in today’s society. Their debut studio album bittersweet vol. 1 was recently released to great acclaim in early April, and features a collaboration with UK soul singer Jorja Smith (who’ll be performing at the Santa Barbara Bowl with Kali Uchis on 5/17).
Also appearing is Jaji Preme (Oakland), a rapper from the East Bay. Her lyrics emphasize authenticity, mysticism, and love. Jupiter Black (Los Angeles) is a rapper also originally from the Bay Area, who now resides in LA. His current project is titled “The Black Diet” which captures Jupiter’s current consciousness on love, society and artistry. Jupiter’s mission is to free people from commercial radio and re-introduce music with a purpose.
KCSB’s support for emerging artists and independent labels includes bringing performers from far-and-wide to the Santa Barbara area. Headliners at KCSB’s two “Hello World!” concerts were L.A. rock band Chicano Batman (2014) and Scientist, from Kingston, Jamaica (2015). During spring of 2015, KCSB hosted Brazilian musician Rodrigo Amarante at The Goodland Hotel, and in the most recent school years presented Syrian techno musician Omar Souleyman in Storke Plaza, and Tuareg rocker from Niger Mdou Moctar at the UCSB Multicultural Center. KCSB-FM aims to enhance Santa Barbara’s live music scene with quarterly “Courtyard Concert” series under Storke Tower, where Oshun, Jaji Preme and Jupiter Black will be performing.
Links to event: www.KCSB.org; https://www.facebook.com/events/609503896491608/
About KCSB-FM: Non-commercial community radio KCSB offers sounds and perspectives from the Tri-Counties and free year-round training to individuals and groups without other access to media resources. Both student and non-student volunteers learn to produce music, news, sports, cultural arts, and public affairs content airing 24/7/365 at 91.9 FM (kcsb.org). Most shows are produced locally, but KCSB hosts national and international programs too. Part of Associated Students at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), KCSB-FM is financed by self-assessed student fees and listener support, and receives no State money from the University.