The Wake Up Show and Sway’s Universe are teaming up again for For the Culture Part 2, a special night that honours the legends who shaped hip hop. This year’s event celebrates Ras Kass, Supernatural, Ken Swift, Large Professor, and KXNG Crooked. More surprise guests are to come.
The show will feature live performances, interviews, and discussions about hip hop’s past and future. It will take place on December 14th at the Regent Theater in Downtown Los Angeles.
Importantly, the organisers describe it as “a gathering of generations who love, create, and protect hip hop”. The first 500 fans can even get free entry by buying a For the Culture T-shirt before November 30th and wearing it to the event.
So, this is going to be a celebration of the community, the art, and the people who keep hip hop alive.
KXNG Crooked, A Hip Hop Visionary
It is especially important to see KXNG Crooked being honoured this year. The Long Beach rapper has spent decades pushing hip hop forward as both a performer and a thinker.
He gained wide recognition as part of Slaughterhouse, the rap supergroup signed to Shady Records. Alongside Eminem, Royce 5’9, and Joell Ortiz, Crooked built a reputation as one of the sharpest lyricists in the game. Even after Slaughterhouse ended, his respect for Shady and Eminem never faded.
Meanwhile, Eminem returned that respect by producing two songs for Family Bvsiness, Crook’s group with his brothers. The tracks “Hot Sauce” and “Liquor Store Church” showed how perfectly Eminem’s beats and Crook’s storytelling worked together.
But of course, Crook’s journey goes far beyond collaborations. He launched his first record label at the age of 17. From his early days on 19th Street Records and Death Row to his groundbreaking Hip Hop Weekly series, he has always stayed ahead of his time.
In fact, long before YouTube existed, Crook created Dynasty TV, one of the first artist-run video platforms. It became an early model for independent digital success in hip hop.
Time to Give Crooked His Flowers
Throughout his career, Crook has balanced lyricism with leadership. He is known for sparking real conversations about authenticity, creativity, and business in hip hop. Even today, he remains one of the most respected voices online: not only for his music, but also for his wisdom and integrity.
Therefore, events like For the Culture remind us of the scale of KXNG Crooked’s influence. His story is about talent, innovation, and resilience. After decades of shaping the sound and soul of hip hop, he truly deserves his flowers.
