Onyx w/ R.A. the Rugged Man, DJ Mo Niklz, Spark Kent at Space Ballroom
Schedule
Sun Apr 23 2023 at 08:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
Space Ballroom | Hamden, CT
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Onyx w/ R.A. the Rugged Man, DJ Mo Niklz, Spark KentSunday, April 23rd 2023
@ Space Ballroom
$30 ($25 adv) / 7pm doors / All Ages
Tickets on sale NOW: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/onyx-tickets-513322149367
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Premier Concerts and Manic Presents:
ONYX
Onyx is an American hardcore hip hop group from South Jamaica, Queens, New York City, formed in 1988 by Fredro Starr, Suavé (also known as Sonny Seeza) and the late Big DS. Sticky Fingaz joined the group in 1991.
They are best known for their 1993 platinum hit single “Slam”, which The Source magazine described as a song that introduce the art of slam dancing into hip-hop. The group has released eight studio albums, three of which have charted in the Billboard 200 albums chart Top 25. Their debut album, Bacdafucup, has been certified platinum, won Best Rap Album at the Soul Train Music Awards and was selected as one of The Source magazine’s 100 Best Rap Albums.
They are also notable for their style: loud screaming, aggression, fighting with each other, stage diving, throwing water, rapping with grimy voices, and bald head fashion.
Listen: https://www.onyxhq.com/
R.A. THE RUGGED MAN
R.A. The Rugged Man is one of the most fascinating figures in hip-hop history. His career spans decades, and defies simple narratives. The Rugged Man has been an up-and-coming star, an industry outcast banished and forgotten, an underground cult hero, an independent success story, and an influential master of the art form. He can obliterate rappers with ferocious battle rhymes, craft heartfelt personal songs fans can relate to, offend sensitive listeners with shocking vulgarity, challenge corrupt politicians and corporations, paint pictures with captivating storytelling, and deliver jaw-dropping flows that prove his lyrical skills are unmatched. He’s also worked with a staggering number of hip-hop’s most respected artists, including legends like The Notorious B.I.G., Wu-Tang, Tech N9ne, Rakim, Mobb Deep, Talib Kweli, Kool G Rap, Public Enemy, Brother Ali, and many more. And while others struggle to maintain a foothold in the ever-changing rap landscape, R.A. The Rugged Man is the rare artist who has become more relevant with time, with each new album more compelling than the last.
Originally from Long Island’s Suffolk County, R.A. was raised by his father, a Vietnam veteran whose exposure to Agent Orange left two of R.A.’s siblings with severe disabilities. After building a reputation as one of the most talented unsigned MCs on the scene, he sparked a bidding war between several major labels. R.A. eventually signed to Jive Records, but his outspoken defiance and reckless behavior spelled the end of that deal and left him banned from venues, labels, and recording studios. The Rugged Man re-emerged in the late 90s, pioneering the indie rap hustle by pressing up his own 12” singles and contributing to compilations from the celebrated Rawkus Records. He earned a Gold record for his work on the WWE Aggression album, and his music was featured on the video game Tony Hawk’s Underground, which sold millions of copies.
R.A. then unleashed his seminal independent album Die, Rugged Man, Die, along with the critically acclaimed compilation Legendary Classics. The latter included show-stealing collaborations and many of the storied tracks that fueled his rise, including the Jedi Mind Tricks song “Uncommon Valor”, on which the Rugged Man delivers what is widely recognized as one of the greatest verses in rap history. R.A. has also made his mark in journalism and film. He's interviewed Academy Award winning filmmakers and world boxing champions for outlets like Complex and Vibe, and worked as a screenwriter and director, notably writing and producing the cult classic Bad Biology. By the time his last album Legends Never Die debuted at #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart, R.A. was thoroughly established as an independent hip-hop icon, playing sold-out shows across the world and drawing widespread praise for his undeniable contributions to the culture.
Now, R.A. The Rugged Man is back with All My Heroes Are Dead, a brand new album that stands as his best work to date. “So many of the greats are gone, and the legends who made it out alive are cast aside,” R.A. says. “Society left our heroes and their culture for dead. We have to dig that greatness out of its grave, and bring it back with an angry vengeance.” While Legends Never Die was dedicated to the memory of his father, All My Heroes Are Dead is R.A.’s first album since becoming a father of two himself. “When you have children, that’s a whole other level of joy and pain and emotion,” he describes. “It opens whole entire universes with the pen.” The music covers a wide range of moods, and transcends hip-hop cliches. “I didn’t want to make a whole album of just destroying rappers and rapping better than everyone.” the Rugged Man explains. “There’s a lot of places my albums take you, and there’s way more storytelling on this one. I love to bring listeners into different worlds.” Now available worldwide, All My Heroes Are Dead features an all-star cast of hip-hop heavyweights, including Chuck D, Slug of Atmosphere, Ghostface Killah, Immortal Technique, Vinnie Paz, Ice-T, M.O.P., Kool G Rap, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Onyx, Brand Nubian, Chris Rivers, Inspectah Deck, A-F-R-O, Masta Killa, and more. The highly-anticipated album showcases the full scope of R.A. The Rugged Man’s considerable talent, making it a powerful statement from an unforgettable artist.
Listen: https://ratheruggedman.net/
SPARK KENT
Spark Kent is an independent Hip Hop artist based out of Connecticut. For the last 10 years, he has spent much of his time performing at festivals across New England and opening up for legends at venues like Toad's Place in New Haven, CT and The Middle East in Cambridge, MA.
Musically, he resonates with lyricists like Big L, Mos Def, Slug from Atmosphere, Guru from Gang Starr, Eminem and more. Upon first listen; the audience finds themselves thrust into what feels like a time machine transporting them back to the 90's. Gritty funky east coast boom bap with a couple modern trap records for good measure. According to Spark, Hip Hop is like painting a masterpiece. It takes creativity, technical skill & understanding that the context in the image is just as important as the canvas behind it.
His debut album Northern Hospitality dropped August 6th, 2021 and features collabs with Spose, WindchILL, Laney Lynx & Nate Goodwyn. Also featured is production from Ski Beatz, EOM, Apathy, Fresh Kils, Dos Vatos & more.
Listen: https://sparkkent.com/
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Where is it happening?
Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell Street,Hamden,CT,United States, Hamden, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
