Sketch, Koba and DJ Boo comprise the Filipino-American, Brooklyn-transplanted, fearless, irreverent, and unrepentantly radical hip-hop group Kontrast. In an era typified by manufactured pop stars and preemptive wars, Kontrast has been out to push the boulder over the cliff and shatter the state of things since their founding in March 2001. Whether they’re traversing topics as poignant as Asian-American history, the “Nightmare” of Homeland Security, the unlikely heroism of Yao Ming or deconstructing hip-hop’s phallic obsession, Kontrast explores with heart, humor, ferocity and a relentless drive to unearth the complexity of truth, complemented by richly textured and bumping production.
Kontrast have performed and facilitated workshops at numerous venues and colleges throughout New York and beyond including SOB’s, CBGB’s, the Lion’s Den, the Asian-American Writer’s Workshop, the Asian Arts Initiative, the Wetlands, the Geraldine Dodge Poetry Festival, the Frying Pan, the Bowery Poetry Club, the New York Theater Workshop, Dixon Place Theater, FIND 2002 Conference, FACT 2002 Conference, EXPO 2002 Fashion Show, 9th Annual APAYA Culture Forum at New York University, Stanford University, Brown University, Columbia University, Vassar College, Dartmouth College, Sarah Lawrence College, Wellesley College, Penn State University, University of North Carolina, et al.
They have worked with and performed alongside such prominent artists as Medusa, Slum Village, Immortal Technique, C-Rayz Walz, Suheir Hammad, Bobbito, Emm Gryner, the X-Ecutioners, Ricanstruction, Tahir, Oddjobs, L.I.F.E.LONG, Oktober, Percee P, Kevin So, Headfake, Staceyann Chin, Beau Sia, A-Alikes, Yellow Rage, DJ Kuttin Kandi & the Anomalies, i was born with two tongues, Rex Navarrete, Blk Sonshine, Toni Blackman, Reggie Cabico, isangmahal poets kollective, the Feedback Poets, 8th Wonder, Lourdes, DJ Roli Rho, D’Lo, Rain Noe, Mango Tribe, Bao Phi among others.
Jay-Z, The Clash, Kris Parker, Freestyle Fellowship, Outkast, Masta Ace, De La Soul, Rage Against the Machine, Pharoahe Monch, dead prez, The Man -- all his rampant wrong-doing and the theater that provides
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