Barry Gayle, the multifaceted artist known as DJ TOPSPIN, alias BLENDIANA JONES, recently joined Trae Holiday on The Day With Trae to provide an update on his latest ventures in events and music. With an illustrious career spanning nearly 25 years, Gayle has been djing in the Northwest and globally, having performed in Europe, the Middle East, throughout Africa, and recently at Carnegie Hall.

Seattle musician Shaina Shepherd graced the set of The Day With Trae in an engaging segment. In it, Shepherd delved into her recent artistic endeavors, shedding light on her creations, such as Jam Jar, Sunday Sessions, and her upcoming album.

Seattle got a dose of heat last Saturday when Bad Bunny pulled up to Climate Pledge Arena as part of his Most Wanted world tour. The show was electric, bringing the energy and vibes the global superstar is known for. From the moment the bass dropped to the final encore, the energy was off the charts, with Bad Bunny performing hit songs like ‘Me Porto Bonito’ ‘MONACO’, and ‘Ojitos Lindos’.

On a buzzing Friday night, Portland's Roseland Theater was the epicenter of an electrifying atmosphere, hosting a sold-out concert featuring the legendary Too Short and Portland's very own Cool Nutz. The lineup was stellar, with Mikey Vegas, Juma Blaq, DJ Fatboy, and Bad Habit setting the stage on fire, creating an unforgettable night for the city's live music aficionados.

Excited to announce that youth-led radio station, Ground Zero Radio, will be joining us once a month right here on Back2Besa! Their goal is to connect local communities, amplify youth voices, and inspire new leaders. This week, Lucia Flores-Wiseman brings us a story about Totem Star, a new studio near the King Street Station that's FREE and open for youth ages 14-25. It's amazing to see a space where money isn't a barrier for young musicians to make their music.

On December 30th, Converge was in the building as Trae & Proof caught the Digable Planets concert at Neptune Theatre. It was a jam packed house as this terrific trio made their way to the stage. The audience was in high anticipation for what was to come. With their melodic hip hop sound, they came to the stage prepared to give us a dynamic show that took us through their timeless classics.

Today on Rewind With Besa, Besa Gordon is joined by Converge Media's Proof and Curtis Delgardo to recap Trap Kitchen Weekend, talk about the current hip-hop concert scene in Seattle, while also comparing Seattle night life to PDX night life and so much more.

Do you know what's crazy? It took for me to go to Trap Kitchen Weeknd in Portland, Oregon, to fall back in love with looking into new Hip-Hop artists, interviewing artists, and highlighting artists that I think are dope. Before becoming a radio host, I used to do that all the time. Back then, I had a different passion for getting the word out about new artists people should know about or even looking for artists I still needed to learn. Believe it or not, some of my favorite artists to this day are ones no one knew about until they blew up.

Portland Hip Hop Week is an annual celebration of art and culture in Northern Oregon. The festivities bring together artists of all types, from DJ’s to rappers to break dancers and everything in between. Founded in 2015 by legendary Portland DJ O.G.ONE who is a DJ for the Portland Trailblazers as well as Vice President of the PNW Recording Academy and the late northwest music industry icon StarChile, the events focus on community engagement and are community-organized. 

Seattle rapper Draze is once again set to be heavily featured across Converge Media platforms. The international rapper and producer has renewed his relationship with Converge Media through the licensing of several tracks in his catalog including his latest single Born To Win (ft. Owuor Arunga, KingDZashe) which now doubles as the intro song to The Day With Trae, which airs weekdays from 11 - 11:30 am across all Converge Media platforms.

Metamorphosis; the process of transformation. The world is changing, and so are art and culture. The 51st Northwest Folklife Festival is upon us, and this year's festival is all about change. Metamorphosis is the theme of this year's event, witness the intersection between art and culture, from May 27-30 at the Seattle Center. The time is now to become a participant in the evolution of folk and help metamorphosize what it means to be a part of the Seattle community.

Today, on the Morning Update Show, we were visited by Reese Tanimura, the managing director of Northwest Folklife, a bastion of the Seattle community. Northwest Folklife is a nonprofit organization that has been a part of the Seattle community since 1972. This year is the 51st Annual Northwest Folklife Festival, and it is ready to bring enthusiasm and excitement all throughout the city. Storytelling and folk are the lifeblood of culture and human progression. Be a part of this progression. This year’s theme is metamorphosis; watch the transformation of art, culture, and folk at the Seattle Center from May 27-30.