By Aaris A. Schroeder
Editor-In-Chief
I haven’t had a music group actually travel to me before but 5 Star Generalz, made up of lyrical emcees Koshen AKA The Lion King Kosh; born and raised in Belize and growing up in East Oakland and natives of Oak-Town, Baserox and Ruckole AKA Ruckafella Cole did just that.
The chemistry between The Generalz made the interview process so much more interesting and set me at ease. These guys make hip-hop their life. The last 15 years that these three have known each other; since junior high, they have helped start some of the Bay Area’s most underground music groups. This includes Kosh and Ruckole’s Rebel Musik, followed up by music collective, The Syrkal of Souls AKA The Syrk where they met Baserox who hustled, tagged walls up and was in a sub-group of The Syrk, The Whut Project.
They went their separate ways – the three stayed close as friends and only came back together when Kosh was returning with his family from Philadelphia, PA when Base and Ruck flew out to throw him a “Welcome Back to Cali” party. The guys recorded “Feva for a Bunny” and “Slap Nasty;” two of their now hits and the rest is history.
These guys stay active in their community as well. Co-founding “Hip-Hop 101,” a non-profit, community driven effort which started in Philly and grew into Oakland. These guys would tutor kids and teach them the fundamentals of hip-hop. They also have worked with several other non-profit organizations such as Successful Options for Academic Readiness [Project SOAR], in Oakland; To Our Children’s Future With Health [TOCFWH] and The People’s Emergency Center [PEC Cares], both in Philadelphia.
They are looking to perform all over CA and have already done so in Los Angeles and Sacramento, CA at The Press Club with Sacramento-based group, The Neighborhood Watch. Their newest project, “The California Gold Rush,” presented by Gemstone Official and Traxbarn is in stores now or you can download it at http://cdbaby.com/cd/5stargeneralz. Learn more about 5 Star Generals at their official website, www.myspace.com/5stargeez.
