December was a hard month for the family of champion battle rapper Marcos Murcia, a.k.a. Kodyack, an original member of the legendary hip-hop community known as Fresh Coast, a collection of rappers and producers spanning the West Coast from Portland down to Los Angeles. The Murcia family home in Union City, California, burned down on early Christmas morning, and just five days later, on December 30, 2014, 32-year-old Marcos was found dead in his sleep of unknown causes.
On Friday, February 27, many of the Bay Area’s finest hip-hoppers, beat makers, producers, rappers, and comedians will perform pro bono at the Oakland Metro Operahouse to celebrate his life and his music. All proceeds from the event will go to help rebuild the lives and home of his parents, Raphael and Ruth Murcia.
Kodyack began pursuing a career in music in 2002, competing in as many freestyle battles as he could around the Bay Area. In 2005, he competed in the Scribble Jam freestyle preliminary competition in San Francisco and made it to the final round against the world champion, The Saurus. He was relentless in his dedication and entered more freestyle battles than anyone from his region between 2003 and 2007. Frank Jones (a.k.a. Frank Stacks, a long-time collaborator, event organizer, and close friend of Marcos), recalled him as “one of the most talented individuals I’ve ever met. He didn’t get into rap because it was cool or because of money and fame or all that nonsense you hear today. He got involved with hip-hop because he had to. It was his calling, to tell the world how he sees and how he feels through his words.”
Chris Paxton, founder, owner, and engineer of Oakland’s Nexus Audio, reminisces about Kodyack being the first artist he ever recorded back in early 2005, and about how Marcos accelerated his process of finding artists. Nexus has since gone on to record artists such as Mistah F.A.B., Tajai (Souls of Mischief), and Shock G of Digital Underground. Paxton and Frank Stacks have worked countless hours to finish Kodyack’s full-length debut album, which will be released posthumously and will be handed out in exchange for the $10 donation to gain admission to the event on February 27. Paxton recalls that Marcos was “an integral part of the East Bay hip-hop community, especially in the mid-2000s. He wrote about many things, ranging from his internal struggles to trying to become a respected artist to songs about partying and living in the moment. Kodyack was more than just a rapper; he was an entertainer, a situation equalizer, and a down-to-earth dude who wanted to see everyone succeed.” This shared sentiment is why so many in this community have united for this event.
Marcos was a kindhearted bear of a man. He inspired and motivated everyone around him. His death has had an immeasurable impact on the lives and hearts of those who were close to him, and it’s heartwarming to see the hip-hop community gather to support his family.
Tom Dean, owner of the Oakland Metro Operahouse, has graciously donated his venue to house the event. Jamie DeWolf, founder of the infamous Tourettes Without Regrets, an Oakland variety show that’s been described as “the fight club of underground art,” will be hosting the show. Kodyack was part of the Tourettes family and frequented the freestyle battles there. The benefit show will include live beats by Jel (of Anticon), a freestyle battle (done in the 30-second style of Tourettes Without Regrets), a beatbox cypher featuring Infinite and Syzygy, stand-up comedy by F.L.O., and live performances by those who stood beside him or across from him in the battle-rap scene. It's gonna be a Fresh Coast reunion. Doors open at 8 p.m., and the show will run from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. with a full bar. Come celebrate the life of a true Bay Area hip-hop legend. You can also offer donations here.
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