My first encounter with local Olympia rapper Afrok was in 1999 while he was DJ-ing under the name Spoons.  Afrok's weekly hip-hop night at Le Voyeur was catching a buzz around town because it was the only all ages hip-hop night in Olympia at the time. DJ Andrew James and Afrok would play underground hip-hop all night and would even turn mics on occasionally for local rappers to cipher or test their battle skills on each other.  It was one of the best things Olympia's hip-hop scene had going at the time, so much that it even attracted DJ Take One, who was Olympia's biggest hip-hop star back at the turn of the century. 

"Take One was a massive influence on me and helped me become the artist I am today," says Afrok, recalling how he and James, formally The Capital City Squad, were taken under Take One's wing.

In 2000 Afrok decided he wanted to do something different with hip-hop. 

"I felt like I had things I wanted to say that people might enjoy hearing through the voice of an MC," says Afrok. "At that point I decided I was going to pick up a pen and paper, make the name change from Spoons to Afrok, and begin my career as a rapper."

Afrok's music quickly fell into the category of conscious hip-hop, like a lot of Northwest hip-hop at that time.  Much of Afrok's music, especially early in his career, had this vibe, though he admits today that he doesn't really want to have a tag on him anymore. 

"I don't mind being known as a conscious rapper, but I'm constantly working on new sounds and styles and I don't feel that everything I do fits into that specific hip-hop genre," he says.  Afrok says his goal has always been to create something that is fun for the listener, but also something that is real to him. Whatever hip-hop label he gets because of this approach doesn't bother him as long as he's being true to himself. 

After years of rocking live shows with just a DJ, Afrok recently decided to give the live band performance a shot - and it definitely seems to have worked for him. I've seen many artists try this over the years and often it just didn't do it for me.  But when Afrok is accompanied by his band, which he calls "The Movement," I have yet to be disappointed.  With two guitarists, a bassist, a drummer, a singer and a DJ on board, both times I've seen Afrok and The Movement play they have stolen the show. 

"My energy level is through the roof when I play with The Movement," says Afrok. 

Afrok has watched the scene change over the past 12 years and is encouraged by what he sees today, though he notes there's still work to be done.

"(The Olympia hip-hop scene) has gained strength thanks to talented artists moving to the area, and also the artists that have been in the area improving talent-wise and business-wise," he says, "but I feel a lack of unity between the active artists is holding the scene back from being really successful."

After years of writing music and playing live shows Afrok has obviously established his name in the Northwest. Currently he's preparing for the release a new single on Seattle-based Fin Records. 

"I plan to start working on the single in April and I'm most excited about having a plethora of in-studio musicians of my choice to work with," says Afrok. "As well as the single, I'm also working on an EP with The Movement and another album with various Northwest producers, both which I plan to release in the summer."

See Afrok and The Movement along with many other talented local artists March 10 at this year's "Hip-Hop 4 The Homeless," which will be held at The Olympia Ballroom.

Hip-Hop 4 The Homeless Celebration Show

Afrok and The Movement, Antonio Pito Edwards,
Collective Love Unlimited, DJ Drastic, Speaker Minds,
DJ Budget Money, Khingz & OTOW Gang, DJ Tee, Free Whiskey
hosted by Luvva J
Saturday, March 10, 6 p.m., all ages
donation of food or clothing
The Olympia Ballroom, 116 Legion Way SW, Olympia