What do hip-hop and pizza have in common? They both require sauce.
As a Journalist, I've covered various music shows and festivals throughout my career - most of them funded by major corporate sponsors that focus on the "Coachella-Esque" bottom-line. Moreover, as of press, we're herded into backstage to wage battle for an artist interview to make sure we meet our deadline. Though I could turn this article into a PTSD fever-dream about how I am never attending another music event, it's through meeting two local business owners that changed how I saw my hometown and the hip-hop community that thrives within it.
Despite the pitfalls of being a transplant and navigating community events as a newly established press entity - how I met Mendes and Devonni is a story within itself, but what's more important is what they do and the whole purpose of why they do it. So when I got the invite to their most recent hip-hop show, I knew I had to take notes.
While at first glance, the prominent black-owned pizza shop Slim+Husky's might look like your regular run-of-the-mill hipster brick and iron building, inside births a cultural experience so heavy that it could crush the foundation it sits on. Slim+Huskys rests in the heart of Oak Park, an area in Sacramento once known for its drugs infestation than its revitalized expression of black community advocacy, businesses, and historical value of today.
Though my established time as a resident of Sacramento has been a blur of meetings and a scramble to find the perfect story - I knew what Devonni and Mendes were doing for the oak park community was something my Texas mind couldn't fathom. I was in a place that spoke to my nostalgic nights of slices consumed while working on news articles to the warm blanket of beats and rhymes from local rappers that filled the air.
Anything that we do is for the community and anyone or group that wants to come through and put on an event - we'd love to help and orchestrate that. - Devonni
It wasn't just a place to be; This was THE place to be, and I had my golden ticket. Moreover, I knew I had to interview the two guys that extended the invitation to me in the first place.
KB: I think one of the best opening questions is, how did this event come about?
Mendes: Honestly, I feel like 10 to 12 years in the making of just connections of just the right people in Sacramento where I haven't either haven't used, you know, haven't outsourced them.
Devonni: When I first came, we had no events. But we had this space in the heart of Oak Park, with people who were trying to find a community in Sacramento.
Devonni: At first, we'd have events here and there, but it wasn't anything. We started building community first, and as we grew, the community grew, and the events grew, and people know this as the place to be - if you want to join and have a drink or like talk to people who are like you and are especially into hip-hop. For instance, there's a hip-hop event right now - I think black culture is pop culture.
Mendes: I wanted to give a Sacramento platform for artists - not just musical artists, but tonight's a music thing, and this is what the results of it are.
Mendes: But in general, I wanted to give artists of all, all kinds, whether they be art, you know, handcrafted stuff, you know producer wise, I don't care if you're a guitarist or whatever. Sacramento has so much offer, and we need a platform.
And provide a platform they did.
At this point in the interview, we had to take a break because of the steady stream of customers pouring into Slim+Husky's - though I wanted to get pizza, I used this time to capture some of the artists that took the stage to rip the mic. The Show bolstered a slew of talented local artists, which was hosted by Moon Magic, a local MC who rapped the night away to celebrate her birthday.
Other notable acts included SacBase, a standout hip-hop collective that instantly became my favorite of the night because of their heavy beats and lyrical wordplay. The incomparable Indigo Queen - who came up to me in the audience to douse me in a melodic wave of words during her performance. Also, shout out Just Is and XCVI, who gave some outstanding performances, even though I couldn't fit every artist into this article - it's all love, and thank you for taking the time to support the community in this beautiful event.
But I had to finish my interview with Mendes and Devonni.
KB: How important was it to have an event like this in Oak park?
Mendes: I've been living in Sacramento my entire life. I could tell you back as a kid Oak Park wasn't the place where you're throwing the events. It's honestly been great for the community - I like to think of it as the community is just being more intuitive and not so against each other. We have so many different vendors out here from black-owned businesses or in general.
Devonni: I love it. You know anything that we do is for the community and anyone or group that wants to come through and put on an event - we'd love to help and orchestrate that.
Mendes: To me that that shows how much Oak Park has changed. There's no beef.
KB: Originally, this isn't an area where you would do something like this -since the changes, how has the community reception been?
Mendes: Honestly, amazing! I remember when I was younger telling my mom, "I'm gonna hang out with friends over in Oak Park" she'd say, "We ain't going to Oak Park." But here we are years later with a hip-hop show with all these people.
Devonni: Especially for Oak Park, it's cool to see. We have a lot of diversity within the community coming together to have a good time.
Devonni: People come from like Stockton and the Bay Area, and I appreciate that, but there are still
stigmas that come with being a black-owned business. So we're just trying to defeat that, and this is what black excellence is all about.
Mendes: I'm talking to you (KB), and it's beautiful - this shows the maturity of this community.
Devonni: Yeah. I can attest, like, there's nothing like black love. The community shows up!
KB: Thank you! So what are some things in store for upcoming events?
Mendes: I got one on April 15th inside Slim+Husky's. It will be more selective with more artists, and we'll showcase singers out there.
Show us that love, and we'll support you right back. - Mendes
Mendes: I want people to come through and see my headliners Gabe The Fourth and Sevon. Also, Jakhari Smith and Connor Chavez just cut a Desk of the Day for NPR Music.
Mendes: We've all listened to John legend or Chance The Rapper, right. We have musical talent like that
out here in Sacramento. There's no reason why you can't have that in your Spotify.
Mendes: Why wouldn't you want that? Why can't we do that for our people? The biggest thing I'm shooting for right now is May 15th in Esther Park. That's hip-hop night part two, and I want to make that just Sacramento artist.
KB: If you can say anything to the readers that are up incoming artists?
Mendes: First off, it's not about being from Sacramento - I know people out here that's made their name in California who are from other places.
Mendes: Yumz. Who's from North Carolina made his name out here in California. Song in Seed is killing it right now. They're artists who weren't originally from here, and they're giving us love - so we give that love right back to them.
Devonni: If you want to get your business out there, network.
Devonni: Network with nearby neighbors and your community because that's where you will shine and grow. I feel people try to network upwards and forget to network laterally because the community will come and ride for you.
Mendes: Show us that love, and we'll support you right back.
Mendes: Right now, I'm finishing up all marketing and website aspects for the business. But theshowbymendes@gmail.com if you're looking for bookings and inquiries or hit me on my Instagram - I'm very active. Let's go!
Devonni: You can find me on my personal Instagram at D E V O N N I, and you can follow Slim+Husky's Instagram too.
Mendes: Thank you so much, man. It's been a pleasure getting to talk to you.
Devonni: Thank you, man.
KB: My honor. Thank you so much for bringing me out to experience this event.
Thank you so much to Mendes and Devonni of Slim+Husky's for inviting me out to such a beautiful community event, and also thank you to those that supported PNCL Media through your time and dedication. If you know another community event or person I should cover - make sure to fill out the "Sory Submission" form for submission or the "If you need press" for your own media coverage.
Comments