R.BEATS Black Lives Matter Tour to Washington, DC
Donation protected
Summary:
R(evolutionary) Beats has shown up to over 40 direct actions continuing to amplify BIPOC voices across California. R.BEATS uplifts the Peoples' energy at these demonstrations by spreading the joy of music, dance and art. We are teaming up with the Hoopbus and Carry On to amplify the Black Lives Matter movement all across the nation starting in L.A. and ending in Washington, D.C. for the Million Man March. Our caravan will be making stops in over a dozen cities, sparking demonstrations, reconnecting communities, and collaborating with local BLM orgs and black-owned businesses to support diversity, pluralism and inclusion.
"The role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible"
Your contributions will be directly supporting the following:
- Gas Money to reach D.C. and back
- Upgraded Sound System
- Solar Energy system upgraded
- Art Supplies
- Housing
- Food
- Documentary shooting and editing
In detail:
Mission/Philosophy:
To amplify BIPOC voices and uplift the positive energy of the revolution through celebration ~ music, dance and visual art.
As humans, music and dance is one of our oldest forms of ceremony and unification of communities. More than ever, amidst a global pandemic, this sacred ceremony of sound and dance is essential as a healing mechanism. As we continue this revolutionary fight, it is our duty to bring energy and joy to our exhausted bodies and minds. Art has played a key historical role in visually expressing our internal and external struggles. Bringing art, music and dance together, we hope to create an atmosphere that keeps those involved consistently coming back, while inspiring those on the outside to participate. The success of the revolution is determined by the irresistibility of the message and environment to those currently in, and those coming into the movement. Facilitating this creative atmosphere will give BIPOC the platform to inspire the coalition of people we need in order for the movement to thrive.
R.BEATS aims to do this by reframing the collective narrative from "Us vs. Them" to "Us AND Them"; to humanize the "other" to reach a post-racial United States. There is no better way for humans to experience each other's common humanity and similarities than enjoying music, art and dance collectively.
Painted on the back of the van is a mural that reads: There can be no successful social-political revolution without a spiritual revolution.
Origins:
Nikko Axzul Quiñones began attending UC Santa Cruz to pursue his first two loves, basketball and art. While being a student-athlete, Nikko found himself at the mercy of the ridiculous student housing cost. In protest, he converted a cargo van into an alternate-living set up to combat the financial burden of the school system. Continuing his education in studio art and sociology, Nikko began his journey of merging art and social activism. His passion was further radicalized following the murder of George Floyd; attending protests in that first week, Nikko saw leaders struggling to be heard by the thousands of People in the streets due to the lack of amplified sound, ultimately leading to disorganization. With the help of some close friends, Nikko decided to transform the van into a mobile sound system to amplify Black voices and provide a platform they deserved. Naturally, as a DJ, Nikko began to incorporate music at the marches. The combination of amplified black voices and music supported one another beautifully creating an energy that was both celebratory and powerful. Thus, R.BEATS was born. Wanting to create a presence that was not only auditory but visual as well, Nikko, with the help of other artists began to cover the van with artwork representative of the revolution. Seeing how vital the van was at protests, R.BEATS began showing up to demonstrations every day, offering services to various BIPOC orgs fighting for Black lives. As the presence of R.BEATS grew, long-standing orgs such as BLM Los Angeles began requesting their support at direct actions and they've gladly answered the call. R.BEATS continues to be at the front lines of whatever demonstration they're attending, at times being harassed, arrested and even towed by cops. Nevertheless, R.BEATS continued to amplify a platform for BIPOC voices and found a unique synergy with the Carry On organization. That same week, R.Beats began teaming up with the Hoopbus at demonstrations sharing a common bond of basketball and learned of their mission to take the BLM movement to D.C. . R.BEATS is deciding to join forces with Carry On and the Hoopbus to help spread the message and environment beyond LA county, culminating with their presence at the million man march in Washington D.C. in August.
Learn more about Carry On at carryonthreads.com and the Hoopbus at hoopbus.com
R.BEATS Instagram: @r.beats_ instagram.com/r.beats_ @nikkoaxzul instagram.com/nikkoaxzul
How can you be a part of this?
Your donation towards R.BEATS will help fuel this mission across the nation. You will be shown our gratitude by seeing us focused on our duty to amplify BIPOC voices and uplift the positive energy of the revolution.
Cost analysis:
$12,000 Gas money to and from D.C.
$2,000 Additional P.A. system / wireless receivers for mics.
$2,500 solar power system - 100% renewable energy to run the sound system.
$2,000 Art supplies for collaborative murals in every city - canvas, paint, spray cans etc.
$3,000 Housing accommodations for the R.BEATS team.
$3,700 Food budget at $30 a day for the R.BEATS team.
$2,000 Documentary filming, photography and editing to spread our mission visually worldwide.
$2,500 Van build upgrades and repairs along the way.
Total
$29,700
Donation Tiers:
$50 - Request a song and we’ll give you a shoutout on our Instagram Story of us playing your song out of R.BEATS.
$75 - Screen printed R.BEATS graphic + Song Request Shoutout described above
$100 - R.BEATS T-Shirt + Song Request Shoutout
$400 - Original artwork on canvas made on the tour by Nikko and the R.BEATS crew. (20” x 30”)
$1,000 - Large canvas mural made on the tour by Nikko and the R.BEATS crew (~ 10’ x 6’)
$5,000 - Hop on the R.BEATS van for the duration of the Tour.
R(evolutionary) Beats has shown up to over 40 direct actions continuing to amplify BIPOC voices across California. R.BEATS uplifts the Peoples' energy at these demonstrations by spreading the joy of music, dance and art. We are teaming up with the Hoopbus and Carry On to amplify the Black Lives Matter movement all across the nation starting in L.A. and ending in Washington, D.C. for the Million Man March. Our caravan will be making stops in over a dozen cities, sparking demonstrations, reconnecting communities, and collaborating with local BLM orgs and black-owned businesses to support diversity, pluralism and inclusion.
"The role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible"
Your contributions will be directly supporting the following:
- Gas Money to reach D.C. and back
- Upgraded Sound System
- Solar Energy system upgraded
- Art Supplies
- Housing
- Food
- Documentary shooting and editing
In detail:
Mission/Philosophy:
To amplify BIPOC voices and uplift the positive energy of the revolution through celebration ~ music, dance and visual art.
As humans, music and dance is one of our oldest forms of ceremony and unification of communities. More than ever, amidst a global pandemic, this sacred ceremony of sound and dance is essential as a healing mechanism. As we continue this revolutionary fight, it is our duty to bring energy and joy to our exhausted bodies and minds. Art has played a key historical role in visually expressing our internal and external struggles. Bringing art, music and dance together, we hope to create an atmosphere that keeps those involved consistently coming back, while inspiring those on the outside to participate. The success of the revolution is determined by the irresistibility of the message and environment to those currently in, and those coming into the movement. Facilitating this creative atmosphere will give BIPOC the platform to inspire the coalition of people we need in order for the movement to thrive.
R.BEATS aims to do this by reframing the collective narrative from "Us vs. Them" to "Us AND Them"; to humanize the "other" to reach a post-racial United States. There is no better way for humans to experience each other's common humanity and similarities than enjoying music, art and dance collectively.
Painted on the back of the van is a mural that reads: There can be no successful social-political revolution without a spiritual revolution.
Origins:
Nikko Axzul Quiñones began attending UC Santa Cruz to pursue his first two loves, basketball and art. While being a student-athlete, Nikko found himself at the mercy of the ridiculous student housing cost. In protest, he converted a cargo van into an alternate-living set up to combat the financial burden of the school system. Continuing his education in studio art and sociology, Nikko began his journey of merging art and social activism. His passion was further radicalized following the murder of George Floyd; attending protests in that first week, Nikko saw leaders struggling to be heard by the thousands of People in the streets due to the lack of amplified sound, ultimately leading to disorganization. With the help of some close friends, Nikko decided to transform the van into a mobile sound system to amplify Black voices and provide a platform they deserved. Naturally, as a DJ, Nikko began to incorporate music at the marches. The combination of amplified black voices and music supported one another beautifully creating an energy that was both celebratory and powerful. Thus, R.BEATS was born. Wanting to create a presence that was not only auditory but visual as well, Nikko, with the help of other artists began to cover the van with artwork representative of the revolution. Seeing how vital the van was at protests, R.BEATS began showing up to demonstrations every day, offering services to various BIPOC orgs fighting for Black lives. As the presence of R.BEATS grew, long-standing orgs such as BLM Los Angeles began requesting their support at direct actions and they've gladly answered the call. R.BEATS continues to be at the front lines of whatever demonstration they're attending, at times being harassed, arrested and even towed by cops. Nevertheless, R.BEATS continued to amplify a platform for BIPOC voices and found a unique synergy with the Carry On organization. That same week, R.Beats began teaming up with the Hoopbus at demonstrations sharing a common bond of basketball and learned of their mission to take the BLM movement to D.C. . R.BEATS is deciding to join forces with Carry On and the Hoopbus to help spread the message and environment beyond LA county, culminating with their presence at the million man march in Washington D.C. in August.
Learn more about Carry On at carryonthreads.com and the Hoopbus at hoopbus.com
R.BEATS Instagram: @r.beats_ instagram.com/r.beats_ @nikkoaxzul instagram.com/nikkoaxzul
How can you be a part of this?
Your donation towards R.BEATS will help fuel this mission across the nation. You will be shown our gratitude by seeing us focused on our duty to amplify BIPOC voices and uplift the positive energy of the revolution.
Cost analysis:
$12,000 Gas money to and from D.C.
$2,000 Additional P.A. system / wireless receivers for mics.
$2,500 solar power system - 100% renewable energy to run the sound system.
$2,000 Art supplies for collaborative murals in every city - canvas, paint, spray cans etc.
$3,000 Housing accommodations for the R.BEATS team.
$3,700 Food budget at $30 a day for the R.BEATS team.
$2,000 Documentary filming, photography and editing to spread our mission visually worldwide.
$2,500 Van build upgrades and repairs along the way.
Total
$29,700
Donation Tiers:
$50 - Request a song and we’ll give you a shoutout on our Instagram Story of us playing your song out of R.BEATS.
$75 - Screen printed R.BEATS graphic + Song Request Shoutout described above
$100 - R.BEATS T-Shirt + Song Request Shoutout
$400 - Original artwork on canvas made on the tour by Nikko and the R.BEATS crew. (20” x 30”)
$1,000 - Large canvas mural made on the tour by Nikko and the R.BEATS crew (~ 10’ x 6’)
$5,000 - Hop on the R.BEATS van for the duration of the Tour.
Organizer
Nikko Quinones
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA