918 to L.A.

To people from Tulsa, LA might as well be Paris, because it seems like such a far-fetched dream to even reach there. But Steph Simon not only is reaching L.A., but he has the opportunity to be apart of a forty-day residency. Another artist who is also doing the L.A. residency is Sneak The Poet. Both Tulsa artists will be taking their talents to do something that seems so unimaginable, make art while living on a stipend in L.A. The stipend is cool. It gets them there and helps them live, but to maximize their experience they needed more funds, and that meant a fundraiser, which I went to on Sunday at the Skyline Mansion. Here’s what happened.

The night was set with a really intimate setup with chairs lined along the main stage that reminded you of a tiny desk-like set up.  dj noname. was the one dj spinning for the night and if you been to one of his events, then you know he knows how to rock a crowd. The stage also had the iconic backdrop banner of the Skyline Mansion. The stage had a keyboard, drum set, and multiple speakers set up. We're just setting the stage here.

Before the show started, Steph and Sneak sat together on the stage to explain why they are going to L.A. and why this benefit concert was created:

For Sneak The Poet, this L.A. residency will be used to make a film. It may be a low budget. It may be in non-traditional locations. But what it will be, is a Sneak Joint. A Sneak Joint has the vision to make something amazing with very little. But he’s not going out there blind, he has a network of friends already in L.A. which include actors, location scouts, and scriptwriters to help make the journey a little easier. He announced that having a routine down there is what he’s most excited about. Working out, writing, and filming being some of the activities mentioned.

Sneak The Poet is an amazing artist who doesn’t perform as much, but trust me, his skills are as sharp as ever. He was a one-man show as he rapped some of his favorite tracks from the Akira album that was produced by dj noname. himself. Sneak was very laid back but confident on the stage. His style was smooth but sharp like the anime swords you see on T.V. He also mentioned that he was the only artist with a Loheim feature, and when Loheim performed he didn't do it on the stage but rather mysteriously from the side room to not be seen, only heard from the speakers was a jazzy voice singing the chorus. Take a look at Sneak's performance:

For Steph Simon the L.A. residency will be an opportunity to create a new album called “Tulsa King Goes West”. What will make this album so special is that the production of this album will be using all L.A. resources. That means producers, engineers, recording studios, and shows. Luckily, he’s not starting from zero, he has the mentor of legendary rapper Murs to help him. He also already has nine beats for the album, and he’s even intending on making a beat himself. 
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Now for his performance, it was Steph Simon backed by his wonderful band. It’s a reason he holds such high regard for them. It’s because they play off each other and complement each other so well. Steph played the composer as the band followed his lead adjusting real-time to certain requests while still playing. One of the highlights of the night was when he rapped his verse to “Shining”, which he actually rapped from Tate Brady’s kitchen, it was crazy to get the significance of it in that moment. Tate Brady's mansion was where the massacre was blueprinted, was now transformed and reclaimed by the people it was trying to destroy, also one of the best hip-hop albums in Oklahoma was created here. Hopefully Tate Brady is rolling over in his grave.

Steph Simon expressed that his favorite song on “Tulsa King” is “Growing Pains” because it’s a reflection of success, and working, and of course the growing pains that come with it. He left us with this beautiful story about him and his daughter watching a caterpillar go into a cocoon, and how he never knew if the caterpillar made it or not, but he did see butterflies in his backward and wonder. Also, that nobody knows if butterflies actually fly in patterns because they know how to fly or is it just their growing pains. Watch some of his performances below:

Again, the residency does provide a stipend, but this fundraiser was to help him create and do more. For Steph Simon this opportunity is a chance to become uncomfortable in a place that nobody knows his work and no one is biased. He wants to test his performance and his pen. For Sneak The Poet this is an opportunity to work with people and create in a place where the movers and shakers are, to see how a L.A. director lives.  Both of them have 40 days and 40 nights to create, and from the Bible we know what can happen after that period. So go support them by giving to their fund. 

They also have merch for sale: hit up Steph Simon on IG: @stephxsimon

To just send a donation to Steph Simon or Sneak The Poet hit them up on IG:

Steph Simon IG: @stephxsimon

Sneak The Poet: @sneakthepoet​