A-1 and Baghead Headline a Rap Show with Heart at SF's SOMArts

On their collab album STEPxSTEP, San Francisco rapper A-1 and producer Baghead strike a balance with finesse. It’s a smart record without being full of itself, and flows naturally between heartfelt self-reflection, rallying cries for justice and a few danceable tracks prime for sun-drenched summer day parties.

Bay Area hip-hop fans might’ve missed it when it came out this past December — that notorious dead zone between year-end album lists and the holidays. But there’s now a chance to appreciate it live when the duo headlines San Francisco’s SOMArts on April 6 to celebrate the release and A-1’s birthday.

STEPxSTEP marks a resurgence for A-1, whose thoughtful bars on 2011’s The Book of Adam established him as a standout in the local rap scene and earned him opportunities to open for heroes like E-40. After a major label deal gone wrong, he stayed mostly quiet, save for a few sporadic singles where he publicly grappled with the roadblocks of pursuing his dreams.

Now, he’s hit his stride once again in this collaboration with Baghead, the Family Not a Group producer, DJ and community organizer whose clear-eyed commentary on San Francisco gentrification and human rights abuses in Gaza has galvanized the local music scene.

Over Baghead’s smooth and soulful beats, A-1 raps with heart about current social and political upheaval. On “Campaign to Save the Planet,” he reflects on billionaires getting over on the working poor. “What’s the Love For Then?” shares a reminder not to give up, communicated to him by an ancestor in a dream. Party track “H2O,” with a hip-swaying hook perfect for chanting along, and uptempo house song “The Freak Show!” break out of the serious mood and acknowledge that fun is part of liberation. The album concludes with a recording of protesters calling for Palestinian freedom.

In this time of collective struggle, STEPxSTEP is real about what’s happening in the world, and provides a reminder that working towards change takes courage and resolve, and that community and joy are necessary.

At the SOMArts show, Baghead and A-1 are joined by Qing Qi, a rapper and actress known for her raunchy, unfiltered bars, along with Afterthought and the Top Chefs, whose heartwarming hip-hop and jazz stylings inspire listeners to see the best in themselves and each other.

A-1 and Baghead perform with Qing Qi and Afterthought and the Top Chefs on Saturday, April 6, at SOMArts in San Francisco. Details here.