Tsu Surf proves consistently that he more than whatever box you put him in: more than a battle rapper, commercial emcee, author, scholar, gamer, businessman, gang member, etc. Activates his circle of influence to protest in silence … well except to say ‘F*ck the police,’ ‘We not breaking our sh*t’ and ‘I love you and thank you’ to a little girl.
Where are the rappers?
Hip-Hop used to be the voice of the streets and the perspective that the world used to check for to understand what urban America is feeling … but not anymore.
To put it mildly, tweets have replaced feet and artists are more concerned with where the next dollar is coming from than thinking about liberating their own people. And while everyone doesn’t have to be a Kendrick Lamar or a J-Cole, emcees from a plethora of different experiences still can pop out and show support to the thousands of Black and brown bodies getting banged on my cops and wannabe vigilantes.
Think about it … just like there was a Public Enemy … there was also a Niggaz with Attitudes.
That is why, more so than names like Jay-Z, Nas, Snoop, and 50 Cent, a rapper like Tsu Surf matters.
The Crip understands his circumference of influences and activates them on multiple levels, tapping into points of commerce responsibly, why also taking it to the pavements, and being accessible in times of protest with the people.
What makes him even more unique, a gentleman usually associated with violence (in 2019 he was infamously shot in his stomach and almost died), he organized a silent protest in his community to bring awareness and move in solidarity with various victims that found themselves murdered at the hands of police.
Moving through the hood, walking peacefully on the pavement, you can hear the trail of activist (some who had never marched before in their lives) chanting:
“No justice, no peace. F*ck these racist @ss police!”
As they walked through the streets, he reminded people that the goal was to honor and not disrespect, build, and not destroy.
“When it is time to walk, we gonna walk you did?” Surf informed. “And we not breaking sh*t, it’s ours.”
Like a Pied Piper, this former college basketball star and English major, organized his protest so that at one point the walked over a chalked list of deceased names retroactively dating from 2020 with the recent name of Texas rapper and DJ Screw affiliate Big Floyd (known to the world as George Floyd) back to the 1955 death of Emmett Till.
Once passing by white allies that signs that read “Black Lives Matter,” he offered gratitude for their support. What makes this so powerful, giving the world a glimpse into this gangsta rapper’s heart is how he melted in front of the little tousled-hair blonde toddler. The Wave says to the little girl, “I love you. Thank you.” Beneath her mask, you can’t tell but it seemed she had to smile.
In a rare moment of humanity, two worlds seemingly remote —find intersection. THAT IS THE MAGIC OF REAL ARTISTS … THE ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH EVERYONE.
Tsu Surf is dropping his long-anticipated project MSYKM on June 10th. The album is sure to be another hood banger as the features include G Herbo, Mozzy, Jim Jones, Benny the Butcher, Lady London, Justin Love, Dave East, Guodon, Earthquake Jones and BBY HNDRXX.
The complete that the “Regular Day” rapper submitted with the instructions to say their name is as follows:
Emmett Till (1955)
Bobby Hutton (1968)
Amadou Diallo (1999)
Prince Jones (2000)
Sean Bell (2006)
Oscar Grant (2009)
Aiyana Jones (2010)
Wendell Allen (2012)
Reika Boyd (2012)
Chris Carte (2012)
Kendrec McDade (2012)
Miriam Carey (2013)
Tyrone West (2013)
Rumain Brisbon (2014)
Michael Brown (2014)
John Crawford (2014)
Eric Garner (2014)
Akai Gurley (2014)
Dante Parker (2014)
Tamir Rice (2014)
Yvette Smith (2014)
Tyree Woodson (2014)
Sandra Bland (2015)
Samuel Dubos (2015)
Freddie Gray (2015)
Maya Hall (2015)
Walter Scott (2015)
Philando Castille (2016)
Terence Cruit (2016)
Deborah Danner (2016)
Korryn Gaines (2016)
Alton Sterling (2016)
Charleen Lyles (2017)
Shukari Ali (2018)
Stephon Clark (2018)
Botham Jean (2019)
Evan Parker (2019)
Breonna Taylor (2020)
George Floyd (2020)
