11 BRONX WEEKLY July 21, 2019 www.BXTimes.com
The Bronx’s ‘yo-yo rapper’
releases prideful new single
Indian
Journalists
Visit BronxNet
BronxNet hosted six visiting journalists from India via the
U.S. Department’s International Visitor Program on Monday,
July 8 at Lehman College’s BronxNet studio. The journalists
particular area of interest for their visit was the media’s
ability to identify and evaluate reliable information.
BronxNet’s Audrey Duncan (back, 3rd from l), Training & Special Projects
director; Michael Max Knobbe (back, c), executive director and
BronxTalk host Gary Axelbank (back, 2nd from r) met with the visiting
journalists. Photo by Edward Watkins
(top) Gary Axelbank (l) spoke with the journalists about how he identifi es and evaluates reliable information.
(top insert) Sapna NYC’s Saba Naseem (l) and Diya Basu-Sen had a great time visiting BronxNet.
(above) The visiting journalists had a great time meeting with OPEN host Bob Lee (back, c) and his fi lm crew.
BY ALEX MITCHELL
It’s not everyday that you
come across a yo-yoing, hiphop
artist out to make a difference
in the world.
That though, is the story of
Castle Hill’s Richie Pigkaso.
The 31-year old combines
these two, separate crafts while
performing on stage; providing
audiences a performance
that’s not like any other.
Richie Pigkaso with one of his many yo-yos. Richie Pigkaso
“Except for one person I
know in Canada I’m pretty
sure I’m the only rapper to yoyo
on stage,” he joked.
Pigkaso’s interest in yoyoing
on stage while rapping
came during a production
meeting some years ago when
it was suggested that he should
“come up with something out
of the box.”
Just like that, the Bronx’s
‘rapping yo-ologist’ was born.
As a member of the New
York Yo-yo Club and personal
friend of a fellow talented
Bronx yo-yo engineer Brian
Melford, Pikgaso’s mission
now is to “spread the love of yoyos
and hip hop.”
His newest single titled ‘A
Different Hand’ is the summation
of that love-spreading
message.
The track is a message of
positivity to the LGBTQ community,
which Pikgaso has
learned and grown closer to
throughout the years, he said.
He collaborated with a female
couple called Herstory for
the new single, which is currently
available on all streaming
services.
“I’ve gotten so much positive
feedback on this track, especially
from the LGBTQ community,”
Pigkaso said.
He performed the sympathetic
track and others from
his two published albums in
addition to some yo-yo tricks
during the Bronx Pride Festival
at Crotona Park on Saturday,
July 13.
Previously, Pigkaso has
performed in Manhattan while
competing in yo-yo contests nationwide
over the years.
“I’m a humble guy and I just
want to have an impact on the
world with what I do,” he said.
Up next for Pigkaso is mastering
a third studio album to
the public on all streaming services.
He expects it to debut by
Pigkaso sporting a yo-yo jacket during a performance. Richie Pigkaso January 2020.
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