Hiero Day has been a longstanding Bay Area tradition but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hieroglyphics crew is unable to host the concert in person this year.
So, being the innovative thinkers they are, Tajai, Casual, Del The Funky Homosapien, Domino, Pep Love, Phesto, A-Plus, Opio and DJ Toure are taking the ninth annual soiree online.
According to a press release, the Hiero Foundation has teamed up with the Akira Book Club in an effort to raise funds for Tools for Schools and provide students with the back-to-school supplies they need.
“Hiero Day is an Oakland tradition and although I am of course bummed that we can’t have it live and in person, I am very proud of what our team has come together to do instead,” Tajai tells HipHopDX. “I hope everyone is able to enjoy themselves safely on Labor Day and also appreciate this year’s virtual version of Hiero Day.”
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The Children’s Defense Fund reports nearly 11.9 million children live in poverty and getting the necessary school supplies to fully equip a child to learn from home will be especially difficult for in-need families and those financially affected by the pandemic.
In July, the National Retail Federation predicted the average person with children grades K -12 will spend an average of $789.49 per family this year on school supplies such as notebooks, pencils, laptops and more to prepare for a distance learning school year. Hiero Day 2020 hopes to alleviate some of that pressure.
In addition to performances by Hiero and surprise special guests. viewers at home will also experience the world premiere of Til Infinity, a definitive documentary about the Hiero crew and making of Souls of Mischief’s seminal debut album ’93 Til Infinity.
“It is super exciting to see our debut album chronicled in documentary form,” Tajai adds. “It is not until now that I truly realized everything that went into it, and the effect it had on Hip Hop and the world. I am excited for everyone to see the movie!”
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Snoop Dogg, Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), Alchemist, Questlove, 9th Wonder, Killer Mike, the late Phife Dawg, De La Soul and many more make guest appearances throughout the film. Sponsors for the virtual concert event and fundraiser include The Oakland A’s and Cîroc, the official vodka partner for Hiero Day 2020.
The free live virtual concert and fundraiser will livestream via Sway Calloway’s YouTube Channel Sway’s Universe beginning at 1:20 p.m. PST on Monday (September 7). Find it here via Sway Calloway’s YouTube channel.
