Trackstar & Friends Holiday Hang w/ Z-Trip and House Shoes

Best known for his prolific mixtape work and as the tour DJ for Killer Mike and Run the Jewels, Trackstar the DJ has been working to curate and progress hip hop culture while entertaining audiences from behind the turntables since his start on college radio in St Louis in 1999. As DJ for Killer Mike first as a solo act, and then for the supergroup Run the Jewels (along with El-P), he has played venues and festivals all over the world to crowds up to 30,000, including Madison Square Garden, Coachella, and Glastonbury among many others. He and RTJ (which has never performed with another DJ -- Trackstar is considered the unofficial third member) have also appeared on Late Night with David Letterman (twice), Conan O'Brien, the NME Awards, the BBC, and Boiler Room. This is all in addition to hundreds of solo performances over the past fifteen years, opening for major artists, rocking clubs, MC & B-Boy battles, house parties, and many other events across the nation as well as overseas. Since his five year college radio run on KWUR in St Louis, he has held down shows on Sirius/Xm (Afromentals alongside DJ Jamad) and now mixes and produces WRTJ, Run the Jewels' hit show on Beats1 radio/Apple Music. Beyond live performances and the airwaves, however, lies Trackstar's true passion, mixtapes -- he has released over 150 mixes, including collaborations with Royce da 5'9, Big Boi, Killer Mike, El-P, Lupe Fiasco, Hot97's Peter Rosenberg, Pete Rock and Camp Lo, among others. Through these projects, he is able to preserve his vision of and for hip hop culture, presenting them to hundreds of thousands of streaming and downloading listeners (in addition to tens of thousands of physical CDs sold since his first release in 2003). Playing a key role with elite tastemaking team The Smoking Section since 2008, his online presence and reach have grown immeasurably over the past decade. His RAP FAN brand is born of his truest identity -- the kid from Wisconsin who collected and studied hip hop albums like his life depended on it. He considers it a true honor to have shared the stage with artists he admires and was influenced by, having performed with Run the Jewels, Big Boi, Nas, Zack De La Rocha, The GZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, DJ Q-Bert, Z-Trip and more. His focus and professionalism, as well as a deep respect and love for hip hop culture are self-evident throughout his career -- -in addition to his professional exploits, he has given workshops on DJing and hip hop history to hundreds of youth in classroom and detention centers.

Born and raised in Saint Louis, Missouri, Kareem Jackson is a rapper and agent for social change. Through his unwavering integrity, sincere rhymes and passionate actions, Kareem – better known as Tef Poe – is changing the musical and social-political landscape. Tef built his reputation as a battle rapper in St. Louis and has continued to grow and expand his vision to a broader spectrum. Always having penchant for politics and social justice – the subject matter easily found itself laced throughout his music. However, Tef Poe does not consider himself a “conscious rapper”. Humans are complex and multidimensional. His music is a reflection of that same human experience. This holistic approach has resulted in a healthy catalog of well received projects. Tef has had the pleasure of working with the likes of Lupe Fiasco, Talib Kweli, Common, I-20, Killer Mike, Royce Da 5'9, and Big Boi. As an independent artist, Tef Poe has successfully broken through internet, radio, and television. Poe has been mentioned in major media outlets such as MSNBC, BET, Noisey, The Source, XXL, Washington Post, New York Times, The Smoking Section, and HipHopDX.com. Tef Poe is also The Source's Unsigned Hype (2012), retired Champion from BET's 106th & Park Freestyle Friday competition (2013)... and even has his own day (August 6th) in the City of Pinelawn, Missouri. Tef Poe continues to forge his own path as an independent artist... traveling, performing, writing for the Riverfront Times, and actively organizing/fighting for human rights with groups such as Amnesty International, Hands Up United, Organization for Black Struggle, and Justice For Reggie. Tef recorded and released a track titled “Change The World”... and that's exactly what he has set out to do.

Rocky was born, and then he grew up. Now we're here. To be continued....