Eastie Boyz: From The East!

What does it mean to be from the East Side? To be overlooked. To be undervalued. To be counted out before the game even starts. Growing up on the East Side puts a chip on your shoulder. Your thrown into this environment with so many different cultures that you even you have trouble knowing where one culture’s neighborhood starts and another ends. But that’s the East Side. That’s also the advantage of the Eastside. This past weekend 3 artists Doc Freeman, YungxHalloween, and Yung Qwan showed just what it meant to be from the East. 
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Paying homage to the Beastie Boyz, the 3 artists did their own flip on the name and came up with what would become the Eastie Boyz. The SoundPony stage was set as hip-hop was in the building. The first up was the artist known as YungxHalloween who got on the mic and showed a side of the East. YungxHalloween has a sound that explodes with energy and emotion. Also, in his music he represents for his community and his Hispanic culture as he drops gems and terms that if you know, you know. At times he seemed to blend into both Rap and Rock n’ Roll, which is true to the Beastie Boyz legacy. Go check out his Instagram: @yungxhalloween

Next up was Yung Qwan. I feel like Yung Qwan had this period of time where he was completely ghost from the scene. Coming off the highs of an amazing EP and the Fire In Little Africa project, it was bizarre to not see him out and rocking shows. This night he reappeared, but without his signature dreads. He stood center stage with a microphone in the stand. I can say that when it comes to the bars it was clear that he's still got them, but it was at the end of the song where you could see his change, as the beat continued to play Yung Qwan repeated the chorus with a pain that deepened with each repeat. “I cut the locs off, looked in the mirror, and found me”, I think Yung Qwan is in a new version of himself and it's exciting to see. His artistry is expanding before our eyes and his new project is gonna be crazy. Look out for that fa sho and go follow him on Instagram: @iamyungqwan

The last performer of the night doesn’t need an introduction. You can call him Doc Free, you can call him Doctor Freeman, but just don’t call him not from the East Side. Doc Free has been reppin’ and waving the flag since his insurgence into the Tulsa Hip-Hop scene. His impressive resume’ has made him one of the most well-respected MCs (also a member of the Oilhouse collective) and also one of the most sought after djs that can rocks crowds no matter the genre. No doubt his dj skills have also helped him uncover some sampling gold. His words cut with this laser cut precision that only a doctor could. (go listen to Dr. No, he is so on target with this album, like if James Bond was spitting real life Spy shit.) This night the doctor didn’t need an assistant as he was his own dj while also spitting bars from behind the table. And when the music was over, he was gone. Lost in the nights bars he escaped to hit the j., after the completed mission. Go follow him on Instagram: @docfree918

The Eastie Boyz. It’s a showcase of the East Side’s best. Who knows if the next time it will be the same crew. Who knows if next time it will be on the Eastside. The only thing that matters is that the Eastside has some amazing talent. This night proved that it’s just started.