Stevie the Blessed

ANCHORAGE – After a deadly summer, people around Anchorage are hoping to turn things around. At least nine young men have been shot to death in the last three months. On Friday, dozens turned out for an anti-gun violence rally and vigil at The Drift Gallery Dance Studio. The event was organized by a grass roots group known as Spread Love AK.
“In dark times like this it is important that we remember not to exert our energy negatively, but to put that energy into being caring and compassionate towards one another, ” said Ali Stover, founder of the group.

Local musicians, families and some strangers grieved together at the event.

“A close friend of mine happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time,” said 21 year-old Franklyn Bort told the crowd. “When he was trying to have a good time with his friends on New Years, he caught a bullet that wasn’t meant for him.”

Local rap artist Stevie The Blessed echoed Bort’s concern.

“That really hit home to me, hearing on more than one occasion where my brothers have been so close to somebody that ended up losing their life and you know I think some of these people it’s the victim, some of these people are just happened to be wrong place wrong time,” Stevie said.

In a separate Facebook Live event Friday morning, former gang investigator Scott Lofthouse and community leader Ma’o Tosi said the key to keeping crime down is building relationships between the people closest to it and the police.

“Currently there are no relationships like that,” Tosi said. “In 2005, there was a strong relationship. What you saw from 2005 to 2016 is a divide, it spread and spread in a way, I don’t even believe I’ve met the police chief yet.”

Tosi says events like the one organized by Spread Love AK can only go so far. “At some point you’re gonna run out of gas if our city does not support these,” he said.

“It takes a community-wide effort to prevent gang violence and crime in our community,” said APD spokeswoman Jennifer Castro in a statement. “In order to have a positive and healthy relationship you must communicate, build trust and engage with one another. The department works daily to earn the trust of the community it serves, and with each and every contact that we have with our citizens. Our officers are at community meetings and engagements on a weekly basis to listen to concerns from our citizens and to find ways on how we can work together to combat crime and violence in our community.”

Stover and those in attendance say they’ll carry a positive message home – one they hope will spread.

http://www.ktva.com/community-mourns-lives-lost-in-series-of-shootings-urges-prevention-356/ - KTVA 11 NEWS

The second annual Rhyme Fest, a hip hop music festival designed to unite Alaskan rappers under the same roof, drew in more talent this year, seeing a rise of female performers in particular.

“It’s a labor of love,” Devon Shaw, rapper and founder of Rhyme Fest said.

Shaw’s eyes were baggy and he looked visibly tired. He said that he was exhausted from this jam-packed summer. Shaw’s stage name is “D the Lyricist” as he focuses a lot on lyrical storytelling with his works. This festival was the last stop of his “Into the Wild” tour with his hip group, Unite the North (UTN) and other rappers like Stevie Leniear, an independent, female rapper based in Anchorage who goes by “Stevie the Blessed.”

Shaw said that there were more performers in general this year and he was impressed by every act on stage. There were significantly more female performers this year, breaking even more ground on the local hip hop scene. Shaw said that six female rappers took to the mic this year, each with their own style, bringing a “fresher perspective and different outlook.”

“Hip hop, as a genre, is a male-dominated genre with less female rappers in general. They have something to prove because they stick out like a sore thumb,” Shaw said.

Leniear said that she wished that wasn’t the case, that female rappers stood out in a traditionally male dominated genre, but to her, it’s all about perspective. She said that standing out was also a chance to break out even quicker if one has the skills to back it up.

She said the timing was “divine” for the ever growing hip hop scene met with more open minds across the state. She was glad to hear more of her fellow female rappers were “stepping forward and being courageous and being true to themselves.”

“Women are really stepping into their power, including me,” Leniear said. - Jacob Mann

In honor of Women’s History Month, I will shut up. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you local hip hop artist Stevie the Blessed.

1) When did you fall in love with hip hop?

It had to be around the age of 5. We lived in the [Mat-Su] Valley growing up. My parents were always bumping the best hip hop on our long weekend trips to Anchorage. One of the number one things I looked forward to [as a child] were the car rides with the family and everyone jammin’ out to Nappy Roots, or Outcast.

2) What is your definition of being an MC?

This is a bit difficult to say. I believe for me, personally, being an MC means taking on the responsibility of a leader - for any time I'm given the platform to vibe with the people via communication. [Sic] Be it music, poetry, or through public speaking. Some MCs may be in it for pure entertainment purposes, and that's cool too.

3) What is your MC experience in Anchorage? Alaska?

A lot of my current experience of being an MC has been strictly through musical display that is predominately hip hop. I've been exploring the side of being an MC through spoken word and lectures, which I plan to expand upon. My MC experience in the music scene has been a blessing, and I make it a point in between performing my tracks to take time to bring a little heartfelt dialog to my audience as well.

4) Recently on social media you have lead meditation services. Where is the inspiration from that arising from?

I have started to lead meditations online. There's this piece of me that feels drawn to synthesizing a time and place for like minded individuals to find each other. It seems in this dark world we live in, this is simply one of the many ways I can step into the light, while making the path more easily visible and available to those around me. I do believe meditation is one of the best ways to program a default of peace in our ways of being, and though it looks different on everyone it's such a basic practice that it seems inclusive enough to highlight our inner connectedness, regardless of background, age, gender, belief, ect. Meditation is a tangible activity that, in my opinion, can enhance the tether between all living beings, which in turn will reinforce the self worth and value of individual life that our world seems to be lacking.

5) You were on stage at the Women's March. Was that a foray into politics? Or alignment with where your music is taking you nowadays?

The Women's March was actually my first time doing an event like that. I never had the intention to take a political approach with my music, however, I do believe the overall messages and fundamentals I represent in my art are so universal, that they can touch such a variety of people and occasions. Peeling back all the layers! Truly, the event was about people empowering people to move with integrity, while looking out for the greater good of all involved. Hence, I felt aligned with that vision and felt my music to be quite fitting for the opportunity. The message I hope to bring through music: I absolutely believe will put me into a large scale of movement-oriented events - be it political, spiritual, educational, or purely inspirational.

6) What doors would you like to see open up in Anchorage to expand the expression and presence of hip hop?

I would love to see a bridge established between hip hop in Anchorage and youth in Anchorage. There seems to be a global understanding that our state is in desperate times, dealing with violence and sexual abuse crimes. Yet, we still glorify a certain type of lifestyle that is portrayed in a lot of our current hip hop, on a worldwide scale and local. It's undeniable that the youth are inspired by music, especially rap, so I would love to see more events bringing light to what hip hop is and how it can bring communities together, rather than tear them apart.

I also have to note [recently] that we have had a lot of larger artists making their way to Alaska for shows. I would love to see a network where Alaskan artists were working together to bring our music to the lower 48, which I know some artists are already doing. Getting a movement to make this happen on a larger scale, that would be life. - Kokayi Nosakhere