Inside the Ethnic Studies Studio...Featuring Kwalified Emcee

November 7, 12:00pm - 1:15pm
Mānoa Campus, Architecture 101A

This presentation will feature Kwalified Emcee, who has been entertaining local fans as a solo hip hop artist, a member of several hip hop groups, and the front man of a live hip hop group. Kwalified (né Kevin Richie, Jr.) was born in San Diego, California, and comes from a musical family - his father went to college on a band scholarship and his mother played piano and sang in a concert choir. Kevin first began experimenting with rap freestyling at age 7. Soon afterwards, because his father was in the Navy, Kevin and his family relocated to Hawai‘i, where he continued his love for music. At age 15, Kevin began performing with the local hip hop group, Big Break. After five years with Big Break, Kevin linked up with high school friend, Jon Sucaldito (JonCozy), and new friend Christian Viernes (RockZa) and The Ill Hill Society was born. Since then Kwalified has performed with The Ill Hill Society as well as the Workhouse collective, served as the front man of live hip hop band, R-U-N, and has released two solo projects with another on the way. One of these solo projects, “We Makin Music Doe” was recently nominated for Hip Hop Album of the Year at Hawai‘i’s Na Hoku Hanohano awards. Kwalified is known for his high-energy performances and always gives everything on stage. He has opened for international hip hop artists like Pigeon John, Murs, Dumbfoundead, Ahmad, Aceyalone and Nas, just to name a few.


Ticket Information
This event is free and open to the public.

Event Sponsor
Department of Ethnic Studies, Ethnic Studies Student Association (ESSA), Mānoa Campus

More Information
808-956-6915

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