Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam Feature

In mid-October of 2023, Northeastern’s Council for University Programs (CUP) made an exciting announcement: popular rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie would be performing in the historic Matthew’s Arena in early November for the university’s homecoming week. On November 9th, the highly anticipated day finally arrived.

The night was charged with excitement as A Boogie closed out his Me vs Myself college tour, which included a stop at UMass Amherst. This tour has served as a testament to his popularity amongst the college demographic – tickets for his Northeastern show sold out within hours of going on sale. As anticipation filled the air while fans awaited his performance, it was clear that this was more than just a concert; it was a journey through time, revisiting his classic hits that defined many student’s high school days.

Known for his distinctive blend of melodic hooks and raw lyricism, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie brought his unique flavor to the show. As a trailblazer in New York City’s hip-hop scene, A Boogie’s ability to seamlessly weave between genres and deliver chart-topping hits has solidified his place as a modern rap icon. His first chart-topping hit “Drowning” with Kodak Black put him in the spotlight, and his 2018 project “Hoodie SZN” delivered a plethora of iconic hits, including “Swervin” with 6ix9ine, “Demons and Angels” with Juice WRLD, and “Look Back at It.”

As fans trickled into the arena, A Boogie’s supporting acts, DJ Guru Sanaal followed by DJ Ominaya, took the stage. Both helped to hype up the crowd by playing a combination of nostalgic pop tracks as well as iconic rap tracks, with some electronic dance music mixed in. The sold-out arena filled with students on the balcony, in the bowl seating section, and the floor, which was divided by a walkway through the middle.

From the moment A Boogie hit the stage, the crowd erupted into a frenzy. The stage presence and charisma he exuded kept the audience on their feet, creating a high-energy atmosphere that never waned. The production design was a visual feast, with dynamic lighting, striking visuals, and a booming sound system that reverberated through the arena. The audio quality was top-notch, allowing every beat drop and lyric to hit with maximum impact.A Boogie connected with the audience on a personal level, interacting with them as he walked through the split on the floor addressing the crowd with gratitude. He also included a variety of tributes to recently deceased icons of today’s hip hop culture in his setlist, with songs honoring Pop Smoke, PnB Rock, and Juice WRLD. The call-and-response moments and crowd engagement added an interactive layer, transforming the concert into a shared celebration of hip-hop culture.

His setlist concluded with his hit song “Drowning,” which he played multiple times before leaving the stage. From the electrifying performances to the immersive visual and audio elements, every aspect of the concert contributed to a memorable night for fans of A Boogie and hip-hop enthusiasts alike.

As the Best New Artist of 2022 at the Boston Music Awards, Dorchester rapper “kei” has proven to be an emerging prominent figure in hip hop in the Boston area. Although she maintains her self and image as being a “rapper,” the styles she explores seem quite diverse, particularly because of the “out-of-the-box” approach she takes to making music and expressing herself. Her sound is defined as “rage-filled,” “chaotic,” and “aggressive,” but the topics she raps about vary – from personal, more heartfelt things, to angrier, more aggressive things. 

Apart from her talent for rapping, kei remains true to her roots and beliefs, both through her music and in the way she speaks about herself in interviews, public appearances, etc. She doesn’t shy away from the topic of being black woman, either, constantly mentioning the stereotypes and stigmas she feels she’s sometimes pressured to adhere to as one (which, she’s expressed numerous times she has no interest in doing). “As a young Black woman,” she says, “there’s this stigma behind what a woman in general in music should sound like or do. Her flow, her sound, and just how she expresses herself visually, all is inspirational to me and kind of kick started my perspective on how to be out of the box.” 

Being “outside of the box” is certainly something she sticks to, seen through her loud sound, wild visual style, bold album covers and concepts (i.e. her newest album “CHILD’S PLAY” being based around her love for horror), etc. She raps in a straightforward, profanity-filled, aggressive manner to get her points across clearly, but her voice also has a certain softness to it that resonates more with the emotional side of her music, particularly with the lyrics / motivations behind what she’s rapping about.

The rapper has been quite open about her personal life, too, which shows a lot in her music and lyrics. Of her family, she recalls, “I’ve watched my family struggle. I’ve watched my parents, you know, pay bills, check to check. And I’ve watched them sacrifice so much and not really do things for themselves.” She noted that her dad eventually stopped making music, for example, and seeing that angered kei, motivating her to continue strong with her dream – no matter the sacrifice – in order to break this “generational curse.” 

Her song “wake up” has lyrics like “I remember growing up in households that were broke,” where she continues this narrative about how she chased her dreams and worked her way up out of the poverty she was in. It, like many of her other songs, showcases sensitive feelings about her personal life despite the song sonically being very contrasting (packed with aggression and profanity). This contrast in her work is powerful, though, and it’s clear that audiences think the same evinced by her recent award. 

It’s exciting to see how kei has taken the Boston hip hop scene by storm as of late, and it’s certainly exciting to see the new things she’ll do to continue to do in the future as she continues going “out of the box,” as she puts it, broadening borders for black female rappers even further.  Her authenticity and ability to keep her audience guessing with what she releases next is a captivating quality for an artist, as is the passion in her sound, and I wish her all the best with her career. 

In celebration of Indigenous People's Day (October 9th), Akwerius released the music video for the latest single release off his 2021 album Bright Side, published by Music Is Healing. This one was shot on location at the Adom Waterfalls in Obosomase, Ghana during kwe's visit in summer of 2023, his first time returning home after 11 years.

Music Is Healing Us (MIHU) Collective presents a roundtable reasoning on Hip Hop @ 50 featuring DJ Nomadik, Dart Adams, Illin P, Hycin Jo and Trisano. Co-hosted by kwe and Northeastern University's MUSIC 3401 Hip Hop in the Music Industry Fall 2023 Students. Subscribe to the channel to be notified of future streaming events.

Black Popular Music - Crew Project (Fall 2022)

Black Popular Music - Crew Project (Fall 2022)

Unity through Music 2022 - Intro

The Music Is Healing Us crew returns to Boston with the 1st Unity Through Music Celebration since 2018. Unity through Music 2022 will be held on Friday December 16 from 6-9pm at the Multicultural Arts Center in Cambridge. Join kwe and the entire MIHU Collective to celebrate the contributions of Black Music to Popular Culture with drumming, spoken word, live performances, deejay and dancing. This evening is centered around the four pillars of wellness (mind, body, community and spirit) to propose ways that we might draw lessons from Black music history and tradition in order to take better care of ourselves, and the planet. Featuring highlights from our MUSIC 2101 Summer & Fall students’ multimedia projects at the intersection of music and social justice.

Black Popular Music - Solo Project (Summer 2022)

Black Popular Music - Crew Project (Summer 2022)

Black Popular Music - Crew Project (Summer 2022)

Black Popular Music - Crew Project (Summer 2022)

Black Popular Music - Crew Project (Summer 2022)

Junior Toots (son of legendary singer Toots Hibbert) reasoning on the social realities of today and the global movement to harness the healing powers of positive music, Rastafari consciousness and spiritual livity to effect change.

For our 5th guest in the Black Popular Music series, we sat down with Prince Charles Alexander (Professor of the Practice at Northeastern University) to talk about his decades of experience in the music industry as well as his new book, Hip Hop Production: Inside the Beats.

For our 2nd guest speaker on Black Popular Music, we interviewed musician and actor Jeff Robinson, founder of the Poetry Jam at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, MA.

Professor Kofi Charu Nat Turner speaks on Critical Social Justice Hip Hop Pedagogy

Warren Harper (aka Bala) is an audio engineer and musician at Sound of the City studios.

Sista D is a world-renowned steel-pan player and front woman of the Dis-N-Dat band, based out of Boston, MA.

Jazz flautist/saxophonist Ken Field speaks on his journey into Black music, the power of improvisation and his awareness of the changes in public perception of cultural appropriation as a White musician

The Akwerian Project is the fruit of a longstanding collaboration between poet, emcee, singer, deejay and multi-instrumentalist - Akwerius, with dub production duo Circadian Riddims out of Boston (Guitarist Derek Wood and Bassist Felix Fantasia), featuring various guest artists, notably Saxophonist/Flautist/Composer Ken Field from the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble and Percussionist/Sound Engineer Warren Harper (Washington, DC).

Akwerius & Junior Toots join forces for "His Name". Dubbed by Scientist. Official music video coming soon...

Mad Professor Live at Bill's Bar (Boston, MA) welcomes Akwerius on stage for an improv dub performance.

Released December 21, 2021

Akwerius & Cordelia Moye perform "Resist" live at Four Corners (Boston, MA). Guitar: Derek Wood. Percussion: Brian West

Art Radio is a podcast hosted by the Siskiyou County Arts Council located in Northern California that features local talent and expand the listeners view on what is considered art. In this episode, kwe sits down for an interview with Bridgett Rangel Rexford.

'Love Rule' is the latest single release from the 'Bright Side' album by Akwerius (Afro Roots Hop). Video shot in Mount Shasta, CA. Credits Drums: Brian West Keys: Yusaku Yushimura Organ: kwe Bass: Felix Fantasia Guitar Chop: Simon Rochester Guitar Stick/Lead: Derek Wood Flute: Ken Field All Vocals: kwe GOOD GOSH Riddim produced by Circadian Riddims

This campaign is inspired by Akwerius and his upcoming LP record Bright Side as well as the documentary film which will showcase various singers and players of instruments who collaborated on the album. This documentary will be an exciting journey into the process of recording an independent album as well as telling the story of friends coming back together to finish the project live. The soundtrack to the documentary will feature original music from the Bright Side album. Please do what you can to contribute to this vision of music and film

Ghanaian singer/songwriter Akwerius presents "Amen Ra", the lead single from Bright Side, his forthcoming album “Bright Side”. "Singing songs of praise is likely the most important thing human beings can do at this time," Akwerius says. It is written in the Scriptures that man is to put God first, in every endeavor, that all things may be added. There’s no better way for me to do this then write devotional songs like 'Amen Ra'. In them, there’s mourning and sorrow too, but there’s always gratitude, hope and consolation to lift you above it, into the Bright Side."

"RESIST" is an anthem of faith, hope and resilience for uncertain times. A Music Is Healing offering. It is the second single release off the upcoming "Bright Side" album. Credits: kwe - Vocals/Melodica; D. Wood - guits/keys; F. Fantasia - bass/keys; Songo - Drums; C. Moye - Vocals.

Released May 1, 2020.

Released November 11, 2019

PRAYER PRODUCTIONS presents the 2nd Annual BLAZE & PRAISE 4/20 Celebration.

Linda Pinkow, host of 'What's Left?' on WMBR 88.1fm welcomes the Akwerian Project for an in-studio performance - kwe (Drums/Vocals), Derek Wood (Guitar), Keith Waters (Saxophone) and Talia Pique (Vocals). Watch the full performance here.

Akwerius performs his single "Born & Raised" alongside the JAH-N-I ROOTS Band (BOSTON, MA ║ 2018).

Saritah performs her song “Lift Me Up” live at the Momentum Celebration @ Spiral Community Gardens in Berkeley, CA

Interview with Saritah after performing at the Momentum Celebration @ Spiral Community Gardens in Berkeley, CA

Akwerius & the New Awakening Band @ Democracy Center (Cambridge, MA)