Fantastic Negrito’s Album Release Party & Concert | Oakland First Friday

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Oakland locals and NPR Tiny Desk Concert winners, Fantastic Negrito, will be celebrating the launch of their upcoming album, Last Days of Oakland, at the June First Friday street festival.

Fantastic Negrito will be playing a full set at 8:45 pm. Prior to the performance, the evening will feature interactive art by 1AM SF, performances curated by Betti Ono, and spoken word by Nomadic Press (featuring Oakland Youth Poet Laureattes), and more.

All art and performances throughout the evening will themed around the title of their album: “The Last Days of Oakland.”

Come out to join the conversation about the changing landscape of the beautiful city. It’s going to take all to preserve the city’s diverse personality, culture, and richness. Let’s do this together.

It means something to be from Oakland. The tiny city that birthed the Hells Angels, the first sports team in black, and America’s oldest street dance has always been ground zero for counter culture. It is a place where violent crime, art, and swagger converge.

It has always been diverse. It has always understood that danger and edge are critical ingredients for art and culture.

But Oakland is changing. As its neighbors, San Francisco and Silicon Valley, spill over with money, the economy in Oakland is soaring. Young entrepreneurs and aspiring artists are attracted by the city’s perceived “renaissance.” Oakland is becoming whiter and safer. Now Oakland is ground zero for the national discussion on gentrification.

Fantastic Negrito is an artist who bridges Oakland’s future with its legendary past. He is a wounded veteran of the city once claimed by Black Panthers and hustlers. He is a vital voice in what the New York Times called “the hottest city in America.” His album, The Last Days of Oakland, is about the fallout and rebirth that comes in the wake of a seismic shift. It is intensely relevant – the way his city has always been.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.