GaKnew Roxwel
GaKnew Roxwel is what hiphop has been missing. He doesn’t just paint vivid pictures of problems. He offers solutions, and shares blame. 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 the bullet. His songs often describe the emotional plight of working class people on the rollercoaster of love and politics.
Throughout Gaknew’s adolescent years, he and his mother frequently moved about South Central Los Angeles and it’s surrounding sub cities. Facing the typical challenges of a single parent home, GaKnew’s mother often worked multiple jobs leaving him to watch after himself. The effects of such a life drove GaKnew into an adulthood of sharing his experiences with incarcerated youth and foster children. This later landed him a career as a Social Work Investigator for the Children’s Law Center of Los Angeles where he currently spends his weekdays. Knowing first hand how art can save “at risk youth,” he served as the director of the after school program, 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 middle 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. During his first year of competing he headed the Hollywood Slam Team as they battled 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 has been featured in several poetry documentaries. However, GaKnew never gave up on hip hop. Poetry served as his creative outlet until he gathered the equipment and knowledge needed to become a producer.
In the Fall of 2005, GaKnew launched his career as a music producer and founded the hip hop 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 they split up. In 2008 GaKnew returned to shock the natives with his debut release, Mannequin People. Though Mannequin People was an independent release 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 hip hop fans celebrating the return of the lyrist.
GaKnew is currently working on an epic project titled Sound of Silence, in which he takes on his greatest feat yet. After decades of pondering on the cause, effect, and cure for society’s woes, it is his response. Sound of Silence is a story about influence and taking responsibility for it. GaKnew Roxwel is what the world has been missing.
GaKnew Roxwel - The Introduction by bgirlmedia
GaKnew Roxwel - L.A. Dodgers by bgirlmedia
GaKnew Roxwel - Radio Active ft. Jimi James by bgirlmedia
The multi-talented GaKnew Roxwel is also a graffiti artist, using only aerosol cans to paint canvases and murals with amazing detail and real life resemblance.
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