TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Tucson DJ, producer and radio host Jahmar Anthony is using music to give back to his community — and he's bringing local artists along for the ride.
Anthony is hosting the 5th annual Tucson Hip Hop Award Show this Sunday at 191 Toole music venue. Tickets are $20, and the show starts at 6:30 p.m.
"It's all about coming together and telling the story of Tucson," Anthony said.
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Anthony said he created the event after noticing Tucson artists weren't getting the recognition they deserved at larger regional shows.
"A lot of time I went to Phoenix for award shows and I saw that they didn't really have a big representation for Tucson," Anthony said.
Now in its 5th year, Anthony said he wants the event to feel more personal than ever.
"I want to do it with a more intimate feeling," Anthony said.
Among the local artists being featured is Rodney Wilson, a hip hop artist who has been singing and rapping since childhood.
"I already had the image of me wanting to be Lil Wayne one day," Wilson said.
Wilson said his music is rooted in his personal experiences and what he sees happening around him.
"I had good parents through my life that was there for me through my whole journey," Wilson said.
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His songs reflect that upbringing and the realities of his community.
"My music really reflects on that, just what I've been through, my atmosphere and what I see people go through," Wilson said.
Wilson encouraged Tucson residents to come out and support the show.
"Come support the local artist because it's going to be fun and it's going to be worth the time to come," Wilson said.
Funds raised from the event will go toward Anthony's DeeJays Against Hunger community program, which provides food to people experiencing homelessness and distributes backpacks to local children.
I previously reported on Anthony handing out water to homeless community members funded through his local programs.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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Marc Monroy joined KGUN 9 as a multimedia journalist after moving from KGUN 9’s sister station, KXXV, in Waco, Texas. He graduated from California State University, Northridge, in 2024 with a degree in journalism. A native of Southern California and a bilingual reporter, Marc is excited to serve Southern Arizona and looks forward to connecting with neighbors in the community. Share your story ideas and important issues with Marc by emailing marc.monroy@kgun9.com or by connecting on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.
