As a bay area resident (by way of New York), Ren the Vinyl Archaeologist made his mark by curating top notch events featuring hip hop legends and supporting independent artists from the Bay and beyond. In 2000, his True Skool events won the "Best of the Bay" in the SF Bay Guardian. Ren has appeared on numerous publications, such as the XLR8R, 7x7, SF Weekly, SF Examiner, Mugshot and SF Magazine, to name a few. Since True Skool's inception in 1999, his online magazine and newsletter has served as a resource that covers hip hop history, politics, emerging artists and events. As a DJ, he has shared bills with world-renowned artists such as Grandmaster Flash, Jazzy Jeff, Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Kool DJ Red Alert, Q-Bert, Cut Chemist, DJ Premier, Wu-Tang Clan, Lupe Fiasco, Black Thought (The Roots), Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest), Michael Franti & Spearhead, Blackalicious, Lyrics Born, Masta Ace, Biz Markie, Dilated Peoples, The Coup, KRS-One, Pharcyde, DJ Bobbito, DJ Cash Money and the list goes on. His diverse selections are influenced by his East Coast background, from b-boying in the early 80s to attending house parties and the burgeoning mobile DJ scene in New Jersey to frequenting parties like Giant Step, Soul Kitchen and legendary rave party, N.A.S.A in NYC. Ren is a professional party rocker who can put it down among the best of them with a vast arsenal of weapons to drop on any dancefloor, from hip hop, reggae, soul to house and electronic music. He has graced many venues with his non-stop seemless sets with regular appearances at Mighty, The Independent, Ruby Skye, 1015, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and Sony Metreon, among a slew of venues in San Francisco. In addition, he has appeared at the Bay's new throwback station Q102.1 FM, Michael Franti & Spearhead's annual 9-11 Power to the Peaceful Festival, Outside Lands Music Festival, now defuct Distortion2Static hip hop show, Myx.tv's Built from Scratch and KPFA's Hardknock Radio.
“More & More,” featuring Detroit heavyweight Icewear Vezzo and Atlanta trap standout HoodRich Pablo Juan. More than just another street record, More & More is a statement about growth, ambition, and refusing to settle. The title represents the mindset of always striving for more—more success, more accomplishments, more wins, more opportunities, and more life. With powerful production from…See More
“Smoking Gun” finds LJ Lewis and OSVN delivering a standout performance on LJ Presents: The Smoking Gun. Fueled by sharp lyricism, compelling storytelling, and unwavering confidence, the record paints a vivid picture of lives shaped by hardship and perseverance. Both artists use Hip Hop as an outlet to share their journeys, turning real-life experiences into impactful…See More
Long Island, NY – Independent recording artist Wadena "Denagirl" is heating up the summer with a wave of new music, led by her latest singles, "Smoke-N-Chill" and "Bum Busta." Produced by Grammy Award-winning producer and hip-hop legend Zaytoven, "Bum Busta" marks a major milestone in Wadena's growing career. Continuing the momentum, Wadena officially releases two highly…See More
Savannah artist Big Pep is making a powerful statement with her latest single, “Ain’t FWM,” released on June 7, 2026. Produced by Big Pep herself, beat by Aceondabeatz and engineered by Jbo, the track serves as more than just a new release—it’s the official introduction to a reinvented artist. Formerly known as Pep DaBlasian, Big Pep uses this record to…See More