ASHKON

ASHKON
"Speaks Louder Than Words" Mixtape
$8.00
*25 Tracks of pure heat, hosted by the world-famous DJ Strong (Cali Untouchable DJs) and featuring Mistah FAB, Boots Riley of The Coup, Proe, Bumbalo, Dr. Stank, Dirty Birdy, Lyndsay Haldorson, Big Fats, and more...

What do you see when you watch an MC who, in addition to his hip hop credentials, has a long history of theater performance, and has fronted a nationally touring punk band? A well-rounded showman with a flair for the dramatic, who is comfortable weaving in and out of genres in mid-set or even mid-song.
In spite of wide-ranging influences, Ashkon is a rapper at heart, growing up in the Berkeley/Oakland region of the Bay Area at a time when E-40, Tupac, and Too Short ruled the airwaves. After experimenting with rock bands as a teenager, he describes his transition to a full-time rapper: “I had just finished touring the U.S. with my rock group The Thrill – decent crowds all standing in the back with their fucking cigarettes, judging. Then I spit a rhyme on stage opening for KRS-One and everyone came right up to the front. By the end of the set, I was giving high fives. The whole vibe was different.”
Ashkon joined with fellow UC Santa Cruz students Mr. Sayre, Coley Cole, and Samix to form local powerhouse Lost & Found Generation, with his first recorded appearance on Sayre & Samix’s 2001 demo. From there, the group opened shows for nearly every important hip hop act to visit Central California, from De La Soul, to Mos Def & Talib Kweli, to Dead Prez. The Pacific Avenue album followed, in 2003, garnering local and online praise, with MVRemix.com proclaiming that “it will instantly become a classic in your collection.” More specifically, Good Times Weekly observed that “I've never heard anyone say the F word with such eloquence and class as Ashkon.”
While the group never broke up, each member went on to pursue solo projects. Ashkon released a short run of an EP called The Fine Line, and began performing throughout the Bay Area with his live band under the name of Ashkon & The Sex. The band was capable of running the gamut, from funk and r&b to jazz, often with extended saxophone and violin solos in between verses. While the musicians had varying backgrounds, it was Ashkon’s songwriting and hip hop influence that defined the band. By this time, Ashkon had graduated from college and was spending more time pursuing theater and constructing his epic debut, The Final Breakthrough.
2006 proved to be the busiest year of Ashkon’s budding career, whether he was in the recording studio, or landing parts in the SF and LA versions of the theatrical production “Our Lady of 121st Street.” July marked the local release of his new album, and later in the year, he scored his first regional hit with the “510 (remix),” a collaboration with Oakland heavyweights Mistah FAB and Boots Riley (of The Coup).
With his full-length release completed, Ashkon’s aspirations are higher than ever before. He regularly packs club venues in his native Easy Bay, and recently relocated to LA in pursuit of industry attention and an even bigger audience. While The Final Breakthrough is packed with viable mainstream hits, Ashkon also gets aggressive in attacking today’s political climate, and never shys away from discussing his diverse background. The uniqueness in the record is that it maintains a pop sensibility without ever sacrificing its honesty. As Ashkon explains, “I aim to inspire my peers and the youth of the nation through fun, honest, challenging music.”