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West Coast Hip-Hop Unites at the Welcome to the West Festival

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The festival celebrated its illustrious artists while also highlighting the up-and-coming. Rap artist, Dom Kennedy, has been making waves on the west coast since he debuted in 2008 with the mix tape “25th Hour.” Kennedy stated by virtue of HipHopDX: “If anything, and I can only speak for myself, I think that I’m trying to do it like DJ Quik did it, or Ice Cube did it, but this is just my way of doing it therefore I guess it’s natural. But I’m not trying to do anything, you know, different or to say, ‘This is new.’… I set out to do it the way they did it, just in my own way.”

Published

7 years ago

October 4, 2019

Oakland Post

Cobby Supreme (Left), Jroc (Middle), J-stone (Right) Pay Tribute To The Late Nipsey Hussle. All Money In! (Photo by: Bertram Keller | L.A. Sentinel)

By Bertram Keller

Saturday night, September 20, the 2nd annual Welcome to the West Festival showcased among the most outstanding west coast artists to date. The festival united established legends and new-era contemporaries; such as, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, G Perico, Joe Moses, J-Stone, Dom Kennedy, Suga Free, DJ Quik, Roddy Ricch, Ice Cube and many more.

West Coast Hip Hop patrons materialized at the grandiose Toyota Arena in Ontario, CA. The jubilant audience gathered in support of the music that represents the region’s opulent style.

The festival celebrated its illustrious artists while also highlighting the up-and-coming. Rap artist, Dom Kennedy, has been making waves on the west coast since he debuted in 2008 with the mix tape “25th Hour.” Kennedy stated by virtue of HipHopDX: “If anything, and I can only speak for myself, I think that I’m trying to do it like DJ Quik did it, or Ice Cube did it, but this is just my way of doing it therefore I guess it’s natural. But I’m not trying to do anything, you know, different or to say, ‘This is new.’… I set out to do it the way they did it, just in my own way.”

Dom Kennedy Donned All Money In Shirt In Honor Of The Late Nipsey Hussle. (Photo by: Bertram Keller | L.A. Sentinel)

The difficulty of career longevity within the Hip-Hop industry is quite common; aside from Kennedy’s mentioned west coast predecessors, Ice Cube and DJ Quik, among a few others lasting success has been unprecedented. In this way, up-and-coming west coast artists have much potential to learn from the blueprint of previous generations, in which is justifiable to celebrate new-era acts along with their genres predecessors.

After the untimely death of the legendary artist Tupac Shakur, many have associated the West Coast Hip-Hop climate as incapable of uniting, in which has incited a forlorn battle that points to a history of gang violence. Last year, the 2018 Welcome to the West Festival’s headliner was the late Nipsey Hussle. Tragically, in late March 2019, the prolific artist was shot and killed in the parking lot of his store, Marathon Clothing located in South Central LA.

He was the deplorable victim of a senseless act of violence; however, Nipsey leaves a legacy as being one of the first West Coast artists to advocate against gang violence. He is commonly recognized as the first crip-gang affiliated artist to willingly produce music with rival gang affiliated artists. Allocating his personal aspirations to inspire unity throughout Los Angeles, Nipsey’s contagious entrepreneurial spirit, and his continuous incite for Black-owned businesses, continues to inspire posthumously.

Spectators and performers alike could feel the energy in the building. At the time of entrance, the building was filled with smiles and an essence of kinship; safe to say, everyone was there for the music.

Nipsey’s untimely death was certainly felt by each of the performers Saturday night. Performers were certainly mindful of the festival’s significance, in which every performer shouted out variations of “R.I.P Nipsey Hussle!” or “Let’s do it one time for Nip!” Subsequently, the crowd reciprocated the energy in the room chanting ‘Nipsey!’ to commemorate his prolific life.

Notable performers included long-time friend and Nipsey Hussle’s All Money In label-mate J-Stone, who took the stage wearing a symbolic blue bandana around his forehead; further, performing his tribute song entitled, “The Marathon Continues,” along with several other songs he wrote with Nipsey. The beginning of the song features a sound bite of Nipsey and Stone celebrating the release of Nipsey’s only studio album “Victory Lap.”

Ice Cube Rocks Raucus Crowd (Photo by: (Bertram Keller | L.A. Sentinel)

Festival Disc Jockey, DJ VIP, guided fans through the experience shouting, “Let’s honor a legend, my man Nipsey Hussle!” Followed by various visuals of Nipsey’s cycled on the arena’s giant-screen. In tribute, fans stood in the audience for the duration of the segment while DJ VIP played Nipsey’s most celebrated songs, including “Grinding All My Life,” “Checc Me Out,” and “Rap N******” as spectators recited the lyrics in unison.

Introduced as “legends in the building,” Bone Thugs-N-Harmony gave a classic performance, kicking off with “East 1999.” During their set, family and friends lined the stage as Wish Bone did most of the speaking and MC duties. The groups set close out with “Tha Crossroads,” and the group led the audience in a “Real, Hip Hop” chant, reminding attendance of the night’s purpose.

The stage was then cleared to welcome the headliner Ice Cube, who was accompanied by long-time hype man and friend, WC of the Westside Connection; both dressed in similar khakis suit attire. As the crowd simmered with anticipation, a raucous “Ice Cube” chant echoed throughout the arena. Cube rushed to the stage performing “That New Funkadelik.” And went to perform favorites like “Bop Gun (One Nation),” “You Know How We Do It,” and ultimately closing out the night with “It Was A Good Day,” before shouting-out Nipsey one final time.

The Welcome to the West Festival enabled various artists from the same region to demonstrate possible awe-inspiring moments of unity through music, in which many new milestones were commemorated for new west coast artists. Creating an incredibly intimate setting for a sold out show, which may one day be remembered as a historic moment for the West Coast.

This article originally appeared in The Los Angeles Sentinel.

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61 years since Selma, Houston leaders say the bridge remains to be crossed

61 years after Selma, Houston leaders say the fight for equality continues. The issues that sparked the marches still impact Black Americans today.

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Here is what you need to know about finding unique white elephant gift ideas that everyone wants to steal

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition. The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half […]

Published

3 weeks ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition.

The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half a second, and suddenly everyone wants the same gift. That is the sweet spot. A great white elephant pick should make people laugh, lean in, and start plotting their next steal before the turn is even over.

Should a White Elephant Gift Be Funny or Useful?

A white elephant gift can be funny or useful, but the strongest choices usually give people a reason to laugh and a reason to keep the item. A practical gift with an odd design, unexpected feature, or playful theme can get a reaction without becoming something the recipient immediately wants to give away.

The right balance depends on the group. Close friends and family members may enjoy a ridiculous gag gift because they already understand one another’s sense of humor.

A workplace exchange, neighborhood party, or mixed-age gathering usually calls for something with broader appeal. In those settings, humor works better when it is built into an item people could still use afterward.

It also helps to think about how quickly the gift will make sense once it is opened. A strangely shaped kitchen tool, oversized mug, quirky desk accessory, or unexpectedly fancy everyday item can create an immediate reaction. Guests understand the joke right away, while the item still has enough practical value to attract a steal.

Pure gag gifts can be harder to pull off. Something that exists only for the punchline may get a big laugh during the reveal and then sit untouched for the rest of the game. If the goal is to bring one of the gifts everyone keeps fighting over, usefulness gives the joke staying power.

Memorable Present Ideas: Creating Inside Joke Gifts

Inside joke gifts can make a white elephant exchange feel much more personal, especially when most of the group shares the same stories. The trick is choosing a reference that people will recognize quickly instead of building the entire joke around something only two guests understand.

You can turn a memorable vacation mishap, office catchphrase, family story, or long-running group joke into the theme of the gift. A personalized comic book can work especially well when it turns familiar people or a ridiculous shared moment into part of the story.

Think carefully about who the joke involves before ordering anything permanent. The gift should make the person feel included in the fun, not singled out for the wrong reason.

Can You Bring Something You Already Own?

Holiday gift exchanges can be a good place to re-gift something you never used, especially if it is unopened and clean.

The following can all work if they still look presentable:

A duplicate kitchen gadget
An untouched game
A decorative item
A sealed gift set
An unopened candle
A new travel accessory

The goal is to give the item a second chance, not use the exchange as an excuse to clear out damaged or unwanted clutter.

Take a close look at the packaging before wrapping it. Faded boxes, missing pieces, visible wear, or anything that looks obviously used can make the gift feel careless.

Wrapping Budget-Friendly Gifts

Wrapping can make gifts more entertaining before anyone even knows what’s inside.

Misdirection works especially well for fun party games. Put a small gift inside a much larger box. Use packaging from an unrelated household item.

Add harmless weight so guests cannot guess what they are holding. The reveal becomes part of the joke without changing the gift itself.

You can also lean into the theme of the exchange. Bright paper, oversized bows, reusable bags, or deliberately over-the-top wrapping can make an ordinary item feel more memorable. If the gift itself is already funny, simple wrapping may work better so the surprise stays hidden until the last second.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Picking Last an Advantage in White Elephant?

Picking last can be an advantage because you get to see almost every gift before making your move. Instead of choosing blindly from the remaining wrapped presents, you can steal something that has already caught your attention if the rules still allow it.

That advantage depends on the house rules. Some games limit how many times a gift can be stolen.

Others lock an item once it reaches a certain number of steals. If the most popular gifts are already unavailable, the final player may have fewer strong options than expected.

The first player can also get another turn at the end in some versions of the game. That rule can balance things out, since the person who started with the least information may get one final chance to steal.

How Do You Plan White Elephant for a Large Group?

For a large white elephant exchange, set a firm spending limit and establish the stealing rules in advance.

Create a clear turn order before the game begins. Drawing numbers as guests arrive can save time once everyone is ready to start.

Keep the number of steals per gift limited so the game does not drag on. It also helps to have one person track which creative holiday presents have been stolen and when they are locked, especially if dozens of people are participating.

Can You Play White Elephant Virtually?

A virtual white elephant exchange can work over a video call, with one person keeping track of the turn order and each steal. Guests can either mail physical gifts ahead of time or use digital gifts that can be delivered once the game ends.

Set the spending limit and stealing rules before everyone joins. It also helps to decide how gifts will be revealed and who is responsible for sending each one afterward so the exchange does not become confusing.