X1 has been a pioneer in the Bay Area rap scene. Besides doing his thing on the wheels of steel, he is a radio producer/ personality on the San Francisco-based radio station 89.5 FM KPOO, as well as a TV producer and host on The Bay Vibe, a television show that comes on daily in Oakland on Channel 78, VJTV.
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A lot of times we as a community fail to recognize how important local community personalities like X1, Kmaxx, Damien, Hugh E. MC, Maya Rise, T-Kash and Syntax Era are, but they are usually the ones that break records from local and on-tour artists, while Clear Channel stations are talking about “big face hundreds” to get into the rotation.

With the radio market shrinking into the hands of a very few corporations, it is vital for us to support X1, KPOO and VJTV to make sure that the community has access to the airwaves to show the talent of local peoples as well as to get community news to each other. Check out X1 of KPOO and VJTV …

MOI JR: How long have you had a show at KPOO? How long have you been doing the Bay Vibe TV Show in Oakland? And what made you get involved in the media?

X1: I’ve been involved with KPOO since 1990, but I got my show in 1998 and been in the mix ever since. The Bay Vibe been on since Sept. 3 ‘06. I got involved with radio because I love to mix and remix music so the people can hear something different – and particularly on KPOO 89.5, because our program director gives us the freedom to create a show so we can play and say anything we want up to a degree, by FCC rules.

MOI JR: How did you come up with the concepts behind your two shows?

X1: Well, I had a show before called Heat From Da Streets, but the difference is The Bay Vibe focuses more on what’s going on in the Bay Area with music, local comedians, upcoming actors, community activist works and interviews, freestyles and so much more.

MOI JR: What is the importance of people supporting independent media?

X1: Independent media gives you a chance to hear the people’s voices on what’s really going on in the community uncut.

MOI JR: With all of this new technology, like podcasts, internet radio, digital cameras, final cut pro etc., where do you see Black people in the media in five years?

X1: I see a big advancement for Black people in technology, even though some of our youth may be bangin or selling coke, but they know how to work a podcast and hook up myspace pages with all the photos, work the pro-tools program to make their own music, the final cut program to make their videos. Once they break through the media, it’s a wrap.

MOI JR: With the popularity of the hyphy movement, where do you see independent Bay Area Hip Hop in the next two-three years?

X1: Right now the Bay is on fire, and there will be some haters, but the hyphy movement is like a Bay Area hip hop culture the world is picking on. I mean they like our swagger, the way we dance, dress, and the street slang. A lot of today’s rapper and r&b artists are saying a lot of the Bay Area words and imitating our swagger ‘cause it’s hot and something different.

MOI JR: What are your last comments that you want to share with the people about independent media?

X1: Keep independent media in the control of the people ‘cause Clear Channel is trying to buy and take over all media, and if that happens that means people of all races or color will not have a voice. Power to the People! One.

Email POCC Minister of Information JR at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , and listen to the Block Report at hiphopwarreport.com or myspace.com/blockreportfilm.

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