An Emmy®-nominated documentary for KQED Arts exploring Oakland through the music, memories, and vision of pianist, composer, and rapper Kev Choice.
Oakland is constantly changing, and Kev reflects on what it means to preserve a city's culture and sense of community through art and by consistently showing up when and where it counts.
This project felt unusually personal. Kev's reflections on the city's culture, challenges, and possibilities echoed many of the reasons I've chosen to build both my life and my creative work here.
Kev's reflections on the city's culture, challenges, and possibilities echoed many of the reasons I've chosen to build both my life and my creative work here. The film became as much a portrait of Oakland's heart and soul as it was a portrait of one musician.
I love how naturally Kev moves between worlds. Classical music, jazz, hip-hop, education, and community activism aren't separate identities—they're all expressions of the same purpose.
The film reveals music as a way of strengthening community, preserving cultural memory, and carrying a city's identity forward.
Oakland itself becomes a key hero in the story.
As longtime residents grapple with displacement and change, Kev imagines a future where the city's identity is preserved through creativity, leadership, and the people committed to carrying its traditions forward.
I finished this project with a deeper appreciation for the city I call home. Oakland's identity has always been shaped by people who create, mentor, and build community, and Kev embodies that tradition. Helping tell that story felt meaningful in a way few projects have.
If your organization has a story that's making a difference, I'd love to hear it.