Public Radio for Alaska's Bristol Bay
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Anchorage rapper heads to Dillingham

Samuel Johns

Motivational speaker and positive rap artist Samuel Johns to perform in Dillingham this weekend as part of Beaver Round-up. 

Anchorage based rap artist and motivation speaker Samuel Johns will be performing in Dillingham next weekend. Johns seeks to inspire the youth in Alaska’s rural villages and communities. Samuel Johns effortless blends modern hip hop with a mission to preserve the culture he grew up with in rural Alaska.

  Johns grew up in Copper Center. As a teenager he would listen to rap music with his cousins. That quickly inspired him to pick up a pen, earning him praise from his high school teachers for his lyrical poems.

“I didn’t really have much to do in the village," said Johns. "I had basketball and I wrote poems and stuff like that.”

Johns says he knows that growing up in a village can be hard. After struggling with alcoholism, Johns says he wants to show kids a different path.

“Them knowing that I am drug and alcohol free," said Johns. "I think that right there is a big impact to the youth showing them that what can be possible when you live a drug and alcohol free life.”

That has inspired him to share his story with young people around the state.

01_One_Tribe_1.mp3
Samuel Johns-We are One Tribe

Johns said, “That’s what I want people to know me as, somebody who is there to inspire the youth, to inspire the younger generation to get up and make a change for themselves and not wait for someone.” 

Johns doesn’t want kids to simply become a fan of his music, he hopes to inspire them to become leaders in their own communities. Johns believes his music will allow him to connect to students with Alaska roots in a deep and meaningful way.

Been_There_Samuel_John_ft._Blaack.mp3
Samuel Johns-Been There

Samuel Johns will be performing at the Middle/High school Thursday with a free community performance on Saturday, February 28th at the elementary school gym. 

Contact Matt at (907)842-2200 ormatt@kdlg.org