North Carolina rapper MAVI and Oakland lyricist and producer Ovrkast. recently teamed up on the new track “MAVKAST!,” and its music video dropped today.
The song, a standout from Ovrkast.’s latest album While The Iron Is Hot, brings together two young powerhouse artists making waves in the game by stretching the sonic definition of hip-hop. The lyrical barrage over staggered drums, a wispy sample, scattered angelic keys and a heavyweight 808 punch exemplifies their approach.
This Saturday at the California Ballroom in Oakland, the two artists will headline the All Power All People benefit concert, which will also feature performances by Oakland singer Shanté and rapper Nimsins, as well as poets Darius Simpson, Sarah O’Neal (who has contributed to KQED Arts), Ice City Maroon and Amir Sulaiman.
The event is hosted by Jerusalem Coffee House, a North Oakland cafe that was sued last month by the U.S. Department of Justice. The federal government contends that Jerusalem Coffee discriminated against two Jewish customers; meanwhile, Glenn Katon, the lawyer representing the coffee shop, claims the lawsuit is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to “punish people for speaking out against Israel.”
