We couldn’t believe a year had gone by and all that had been accomplished. Dennis and I are extremely grateful to all, who have continually encouraged our efforts to support the Hip Hop community. Over sixty interviews, 15 features and several hundred thousand hits later, we are so excited to see what’s to come in 2005. There was no better way to celebrate than to invite all our supporters, and past interviewees to the Temple Bar on the 29th of January 2005. This years southern California celebration took place at the Temple Bar in Santa Monica, Los Angeles.

The three months prior to the party was out of control. Booking the talent, finding a location, sponsors/giveaways, recruiting hosts and ensuring that everybody was taken care of-to say the least it was quite the tiresome experience. 8:30pm hit and everything was finished and ready to go. Guestlists, food for the performers, tech rehearsal, projection, phone calls, wristbands, and requests were the least of our concerns as the early arriving spectators filled the room. We can’t thank our friends from the Bay enough, for traveling the far distance to celebrate with us. Staff/friends such as Cliff, Tiffany, Cindy, Jewels, Atijia, Jennilee, Cam, Rictor certainly contributed to the overall desired flow of the evening.

The Temple Bar is a respected venue in the city of Santa Monica, well known for it’s intimate vibe, and eclectic, rotating talent. The Temple Bar shows a lot of love for up and coming talent in the community, and serve as one of the few venues in Los Angeles, who support all avenues of music—while providing an entertaining show for reasonable prices. For this reason alone—we were so pleased to have been given the opportunity to throw this years anniversary party at this well-respected spot. Much love to the owners Louie and Netty for being so generous.

Bay Area’s own Dj Jayvi Velasco and Los Angeles’ DJ Jedi were blessin’ the tables that evening. Circles were going all night and people were feeling the overall vibe of the evening. Good peoples and good music…can’t get much better than that. The performers for that night were out of control talented. I doubt one spectator left not impressed by the performances. Everything from the dancers, to poets, dj’s, beatboxer, artists and hosts-the spectators were rather responsive to the entire show. Talent from all over California blessed the Temple Bar stage for this one time gathering. The show was quality to say the least. Dance Crews for the night was Nu Origin formally known as Chain Reaction (Bay Area) World Famous (La/Vegas/Bay/San Diego), and the Jabbawockkeez (Bay/Diego/La). Emcee crew A.R.E All Real Emcees, and collaboration performance with beatboxer/dj/poet collaboration Non Descript. Romali Licudan was the live painter for the evening and is an up and coming artist in the community. His artwork can be seen on www.onecypher.com under artist directory. The crowd was so impressed with his artwork that they began bidding on his paintings before he was finished. The evening was hosted by the two most entertaining/talented individuals hosts EVER-best of Def Jam comedian Affion Crockett and talented poet/host Quest.

Each performance was damn near flawless. It was sooo dope to see so many of our supporters! Every single crew freakin’ tore it up. Supporters watched with jaws dropped and nothing but smiles. The evening flowed better than we could of imagined. The place was packed, the show started and finished on time. The transitions between each crew and the chemistry between the hosts made the night swim by. Everyone was laughing and enjoying themselves. Much thanks are in order.

Thanks to our supportive sponsors: We could NOT of done any of this without your support. Shouts to Mixwell clothing, DJ Rashida, Evolve Universal, Stablished, Edge Dance Complex, Nacu Clothing, Kim Hill, Millennium Dance Complex, Quain Photo, Quiznos, New Leaf Clothing, Tribal, Funks La, Culture Shock Los Angeles, Wet Ink Printing, Scion, Bloc Dance Agency, Tribal Clothing, DJ Jedi, Dj Jayvi Velasco, Temple Bar, Amoeba Records, AE CREATIVE, Wet Ink Printing, Justin Bua, Stablished, Jointz Magazine, Live Mechanics, Third Heaven Graphics, Breakvision.

Of course thanks to our staff for the evening, performers/dj’s and hosts-We LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!!
The Jabbawockeez, Nu-Origin, World Famous, Dj Jedi, Non Descript, A.R.E, Dj Jayvi Velasco, Quest, Affion Crockett, Atijia Brewer, Jewel Smith, Tiffany Tate, Jennilee Gomez, Cindy Balagtas, Cliff Cabute, Aldryn Estacio, Paul for the projector, Culture Shock San Diego (samath you thunder diva) Mia, Gretchen, Louie/Netty and the entire Temple Bar staff.

Lastly, thanks so much to all the supporters who came to our event and who visit our online magazine. We hope you enjoy each issue, because we truly take pleasure in providing One Cypher has a resource for the Hip Hop community. Thank you for supporting our vision. We got thangs planned for 2005- so DON’T SLEEPPP!!!!!! Much love and respect….Peace. – Shelley Oto