Author: ktc

DOOMSDAY 2018

Posted on by ktc

DOOMSDAY 2018 is this Friday!  I really don’t know if anyone else in the world celebrate DOOM. For one we usually and only celebrate a famous or influential person when they DEAD. Well, MF DOOM released OPERATION DOOMSDAY on April 20th, 1999 and to me DOOM’s music is more than just lyrics and beats.  The added significance is my MC partner and brotha, Kapuni EP/IG88 is the first one to hip me to Sev Love X transformation to MF DOOM. And since both DOOM and i had a brother pass on too early, even more so, DOOMSDAY.  So, 20 artist, food, drank, and music, plus major product drops.  Stay Tuned and Don’t Sleep.

INFINITY SHAKA V2

Posted on by ktc

As we are on the precipice of The Avengers: Infinity War it was about that time to drop a presale on yah!  If you missed out supporting the first and limited color release of the INFINITY SHAKA V2 here is your chance to cop one and possibly win a INFINITY SHAKA Replica gauntlet.

Yes for every shirt purchased you get entered to win a actually Infinity Gauntlet. Check our boy Brian Tong’s review https://youtu.be/ip7gRmrN8TA Mahalo for the support and Don’t Sleep.

Front & Center

Posted on by ktc

As i was moving this chair i had in my shop since we opened, that my wife picked out from Re-Use in Kalihi i decided to take a photo in front of the shop before i loaded it up to take home. As much as im blown away how far we came, from a 300 watt college radio show, im not surprised that we are here. I envisioned a shop, always talked about if i had a shop, and even took notes as i visited other shops on my travels. Whats dope is when the opportunity came to open a shop, it didn’t surprise anyone we opened.  The feeling was “it was about time”. Ask me if i was ready, nah.  Did i have the money to open, nope.  Did i wanna quit a dope job with my own office, unreal benefits, great coworkers, NO!  So why did i do it?  Why not…why not me? Since i was a kid i had to operate on “zero” conditions.  No money, got a paper route in 3rd grade. Got my first full time job at fifteen and a half working at a hospital in the medical supplies department, i was the youngest employee they every hired.  I worked every vacation, every summer, Christmas, Thanks Giving, New Years, & Birthdays…that was when i was a Junior in High School.  When i went to college it was no different, we would go out an party or i dj’ed til 2am, then went to an After Hours or ate, got home at 5-6ish, took a shower and when to work at 7am.  Didn’t take out one school loan, i worked, and applied for every grant and scholarship. Zero debt after graduating. What does it all mean? I worked my ass off to get here, am i better than the next man? Nah, but i stand on mine that fo’ sho. So as i sit in front of our first LIGHTSLEEPERS brick & mortar, am i amazed to be here the answer is Yes! but not surprised it was all planned back when i was slinging news paper at 9 years old on the streets of Kapahulu.  God Bless & Don’t Sleep.

GOT ‘EM

Posted on by ktc

We been celebrating AIR MAX DAY since the inception in 2014. Released our first shirt in 2015. Not that we don’t like Jordans, but been air max’in since jump. So when NIKE decided to create a holiday for AMX we thought it be dope to make a tee to honor a staple for all us Hip-Hop heads.

We decided to mash up the epic screen, when you not catchin L’s: GOT ‘EM! with the OG Mobile Suit; RX-78-2 Gundam. Its just fresh to intersect two cultures like sneakers & OG mecha anime.

Had to replaced the AIR MAX 98 “Seismic Veloctiy” aka “Gundam” then added our twist of mecha typeface.

We picked the AM 98 cause its 2018, it only made common sense, but i guess you thought we were gonna do a 97/1 shoe, nope. We still want the kicks, fo’sho, but damn hype beasts gonna be out and a bot.  The tee drops 3/26, but stay tuned for an early release link, for all that actually check out website and read.  Mahalo for the support. Don’t Sleep.

BEATROOT 2018

Posted on by ktc

BEATROOT 2018 and we are locked and loaded with the entire season.  Also a new email dedicated to BEATROOT: beatroot808@gmail.com if you or your producer friend would like to enter BR hit up the email.  Incase you don’t know what BR is you must be living under a coral reef, cause we been doing it for over 10 years. Trust me this producer came in to the shop diggin’ and never heard of Lightsleepers or BR? Maybe its arrogant of me to assume he knew but c’mon man, if you was really making music the natural hunger to play your music to someone other than your cat and moms would of forced you to find us…anyway hear are the rules/lowdowns:

  • Battle consist of 6 producers with all original beats produced by them!
  • Battle is head to head, randomly picked.
  • Each beat is 2:00 minutes max.
  • Producer must play beats off of laptop, beat machine, or controller.
  • NO playing beats from phone or tablet (exceptions may be made but highly discouraged)
  • First round, 1 beat each, 3 battles, 3 winners move on to final 4
  • 3 losers battle in “sudden death” round to take the final spot in the final 4, 1 beat each.
  • Final four, 1 beat each, 2 battles, 2 winners move on to FINALS.
  • Finals, 2 beats each, 1 winner moves on to Grand Championships!
  • Incase of a Tie, producer will play another beat, there can only be 1 tie, no second tie.

Any questions please email: beatroot808@gmail.com

Don’t Sleep.

KidsNeedFood – “Chakras”

Posted on by ktc

Last week we hosted KIDSNEEDFOOD mixtape release party. The “mixtape” called PORTALS plays more like a album but hey i love the lofty goals. They also premiered their new video, “Chakras”. The HOFFAPOUND record label headed by producer KHOMPONO is on a tear planning hood performance popups. I really dig the direction these brothas are going. Big things. Don’t Sleep.

RED OUT

Posted on by ktc

 

Sorry for the hold up, we been working out the kinks of our new website. Taking pride in the events calender. Anyway, the RED OUT is up on the site and go cop another clean 5 panel cap for your head.  Don’t Sleep.

PETER MOON

Posted on by ktc

Like alot of locals growing up “Hawaiian Music” was played on Aloha Fridays, 105.1FM, clean house sundays, Luau’s, 1st baby parties, Beach, or just when your parents would put on the records. I was blessed my Dad played music with and worked along side many great Hawaiian Legends, he also had all the records!  One being, Peter Moon, he is a staple in shifting Hawaiian Music from traditional into mixing different vibes & styles. I first heard of his music through Sunday Manoa.

“Pua Lilia” always gave me chicken skin cause you know one pretty Hawaiian Aunty gonna jam da Hula a couple chicks from one Halau gonna get up and dance. Another garens jam was “Kawika” which was a standard in “Kamehameha Schools” if you no can pick the first couple bars den you better put down the Ukulele, i put it down (i can jam Surf, LOL).

As much as i loved The Sunday Manoa, it was when The Cazimero Brother’s peaced out and then The Peter Moon band was formed with various lead singers such as Martin Pahinui, Cyril Pahinui, & Randy Lorenzo. At first i was confused cause i thought Peter Moon was singing, but he was more like the conductor/composer.  Genius. Choke tracks i could post but this one comes to mind, “Island Love” a killer cut.

Uncle Peter Moon, created countless jems.  I find it amazing that Hawaiian Music can encompass elements of Folk, Country, Rock, and Funk. The world really don’t give our music the credit it deserves. Anyway, the song that captivates and moves me the most is “Keawaiki” from the first few cords it automatically hits the soul in an area not often touched.

The melodies and the thick rhythm of the instruments topped with the smooth voice of Randy Lorenzo, brah.  When my daughter was born, i knew that i would name her “Keawaiki”…”she gives me love and piece of mind”.  This ones for you Braddah Peter Moon, you was one Killah musician that no one could F wit in Hawaii and The World. I just hope one day the World will appreciate your greatness and i can take from your legacy and apply that to Hawaii Hip-Hop.  Livicated to Peter Moon. Don’t Sleep.

RED OUT – 5 panel cap

Posted on by ktc

Keepin’ it clean, cause Biggie Smalls is the illest. Haha. Our new 5 panel cap is simple…RED. No not for the Bloodz or Cincy Reds, just a clean red cap to rock all day all night. Stoked that our 5P’s always sell really well in a landscape where everyone got a hat. Mahalos for the support. Available in LSMC and online later tonight.

ROOTS (History & Insight)

Posted on by ktc

Lets make this short and sweet. No KTUH, No Lightsleepers. I have no true idea or value of the role Lightsleepers has made in Hawai’i’s Hip-Hop.  Maybe cause i’m not done yet. A grip of “to do” is still on the list.  But i wanna take it back a bit to 1997. That was the year i transferred from Leeward Community College to University of Hawai’i.  My high school homie, Lord Ced became the General Manager of KTUH and found out i was on my way.  He convinced me to do a radio show.  I didn’t wanna do radio, my only recollection of radio was mainstream crap, and til’ this day its still the same, crap.  There was a catch, college radio is a free form, 3 hour blocks of music genres…and KTUH needed a Hip-Hop Show. I came up on the the past KTUH Hip-Hop shows like; Soul 69 w/Eitaro, Syze One, & DJ MinOne.  Big D aka Derrick Ah Sam also had a show on KTUH, currently he has parlayed his experiences to one of the dopest music radio shows expeditionradio.  I had the show for 5 years and we, Hawai’i HIp-Hop community and the world wide Hip-Hop Community help grow the show.  My opinion it was our Stretch & Bobbito, Mike Nardone, or Sway & Tech.

There was no social media strategy or set play list.  No wack MCs. No Fakin’ the funk. I programed the show according to what i believed was dope, what i felt people needed to hear, and the music that we were making. A bold stance, but i am passionate about my music and i knew in my gut that there were others also passionate about Hip-Hop. When i got the notification that i was getting kicked off the air my first response was “let fight this” then i realized “nah it was time to move on”.  I had petitions and letters written to the newspapers to “SAVE THE LIGHTSLEEPERS SHOW” i was flattered.  I also had haters, yes haters, people saying i was abusing college funds by doing a radio show, WTF?!?1? I didn’t get paid for doing my show, i was there on Christmas, New Years, My Birthday, you name it. 5 years FREE, for the LOVE! The end of the LIGHTSLEEPERS Radio show was the Beginning of Lightsleepers the…events, art shows, skate contests, popups, drops, clothing, skateboards, tours, music, brick & mortar, podcast, and the list keeps growing.  2018 we are entering into a full circle, Lightsleepers: More Dusty, Than Digital, our online radio show. Simple, every other week will be an old episode of Lightsleepers on KTUH, and the alternating week will be a new show focusing on…guess what…Hip-Hop! The beats, producers, the creative, the abstract, the different, basically what i did in 1997, now in 2018.  This idea been cooking since 2003ish, but i wanted to start a podcast first, SLEEP TIMES OVER, that wasnt music. Now, we ready and with all the wackness streaming out on the inter webs, i can’t go for that. So welcome to the marathon, stay tuned, and Don’t Sleep. – ktc