“A Tribe Called Quest was one of those things where it was supposed to be about growth. When I say ‘growth,’ I don’t just mean with our sound or our product, but Tribe was supposed to grow as individuals.” - Phife DawgOn Friday, May 17, 2019, UnderCover is humbled to announce that The City of Oakland will be delivering a Mayoral Proclamation declaring it Phife Dawg Day! Phife Dawg's family will be in attendance to receive the decree as well as to say a few words.
UnderCover invites you to join us for "Phife Dawg Friday" on Friday, May 17 at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts as we celebrate the life and music of Phife Dawg.
VISION
UnderCover Presents is honoring A Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders, an album that bridged the gap between hip-hop and jazz. The show takes place May 16-18, 2019 at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Given that both YBCA and this album celebrated their 25th anniversaries, UnderCover felt it appropriate to continue to introduce this classic record to new audiences. Not to mention that the messages embedded in this album continue to echo resoundingly as we witness all that is taking place in the world.
With this tribute, UnderCover and YBCA aim to reflect the spirit of Midnight Marauders by incorporating elements from all four pillars of hip-hop: DJing, MCing, Writing (graffiti) and B-Boying (breakdancing), along with the minimalism and free-forming nature of the jazz instrumentation. The institutionalized racism and classism that A Tribe Called Quest was grappling with when this album was released, is still being played out today, from border walls to prison bars. By hosting this tribute, we invite the audience to think about the way that hip hop (and this album, specifically) might break down these barriers and serve as a door to greater equality and unity.
https://undercoverpresents.bandcamp.com/album/undercover-a-tribute-to-a-tribe-called-quests-midnight-marauders
Fun fact: My first performance ever was at the age of 7 in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand! I’m so excited to return for my first residency at the Park MGM in just a few weeks
Janet Jackson is one of the most influential entertainers of the modern era. Her recent single, “Made For Now,” with Reggaeton superstar Daddy Yankee debuted at #1 on iTunes charts and the video currently has over 52 million views and was released on her own Rhythm Nation Records in partnership with Cinq Music. Her music has won her 6 GRAMMY® Awards, 2 Emmy Nominations, a Golden Globe Award, a nomination for an Academy Award along with dozens of American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards. She has received accolades as an actress as well including the NAACP Best Supporting Actor award. Janet is a published author, dancer, businessperson, philanthropist and one of the biggest-selling artists in popular music history. With sales of over 160 million records worldwide, Janet Jackson stands as one of the best-selling artists of all time with a string of hits that have left an indelible impression on pop culture. Her music and artistry has opened doors through which other top artists have followed, many acknowledging her impact on their musical perception.
