GaKnew Roxwel - Emcee / Producer
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GaKnew Roxwel is “what hiphop has been missing”. He is genuine. He is passionate. He is intelligent. The first decade of GaKnew’s life was shaped by Compton, CA, where brawn is praised over brains. However, rather than the cliché thug tales that glorify the dark sides of urban life, GaKnew tells the story of the “L.A Dodger”, a civilian dodging corporate criminals as well as local bullies. His songs often describe the emotional plight of working class people on the rollercoaster of love and politics. GaKnew doesn’t just paint vivid pictures of the problems. He offers solutions and shares the blame.
Throughout Gaknew’s adolescent years, he and his mother frequently moved about the sub cities of Los Angeles County. Facing the typical challenges of a single parent home, GaKnew’s mother often worked more than one job and left him to watch after himself. The effects of such a life drove GaKnew to dedicate his early twenties to sharing his experiences with incarcerated youth and foster children. Knowing first hand how art can save "at risk youth", he served as the director of after school programs for Assemblies In Motion, the nonprofit organization founded by Leila Steinberg and Tupac Shakur. The state of the inner city weighs heavy on GaKnew, and constantly leaks into his music. Rapping has been a passion of his since junior high school, but unable to find a music producer on the same path, he found himself with bare raps at poetry open mics.
In 2001 GaKnew began competing in poetry slams and battled his way to the title of Grand Slam Champion. He headed the Hollywood Slam Team as they competed against over 70 teams across the US. The rarity of rappers in the poetry scene presented a challenge, but GaKnew proved that holding the crown was no fluke. He proceeded in 2004 to take the title for a second time and joined his team for a final round victory in the PSI National Poetry Slam. Mr. Roxwel ended his slam career as the only poet to hold the title of Grand Slam Champion twice on the Hollywood team. GaKnew has shared the stage with artists such as Saul Williams, Mos Def, Shihan, Slim Kid Tre’ of Phar Cyde, Eminem, Thea Monyee’, and many others. He has also performed on HBO's Def Poetry, appeared in the Los Angeles Times, and featured in several poetry documentaries. However, GaKnew never gave up on Hiphop. Poetry served as his creative outlet until he gathered the equipment and knowledge needed to produce music.
In the Fall of 2005, GaKnew launched his career as a music producer and founded the Hiphop band, FRESH CITY. The band quickly pushed to the forefront as a local favorite. FRESH CITY held the position of top band on the West Coast throughout the first two rounds of the Emergenza International Battle of The Bands. However, after two years of building a fan base, artistry led band members in different directions and tore the band apart. In 2008 GaKnew returned to shock the natives with his debut release, Mannequin People. Though Mannequin People is an independently released CD it has been highly recognized for it’s quality, creativity, and passion. Songs such as “Trynna Say The Words” and “Impossible” have brought listeners to tears while “The Introduction” and “Feel This Way” have die hard Hiphop fans celebrating the return of the Golden Age. Joined on stage by his wife and once FRESH CITY emcee, Thea Monyee’, GaKnew Roxwel is the balance that Hiphop has been missing.
