The Good Life Health Food Centre's weekly open-mic night began in December 1989. Started by B. Hall On Thursday nights from 8-10pm, artists were allowed to perform one song. Some would perform written songs, and some would
freestyle. When a performance was not up to par, the audience would call out "Please pass the mic!" and the emcee would end the performance promptly. In addition, there was a strict policy against
cursing. B. Hall once explained, "Young people needed a place to go to develop their own art. The no-cussing policy wasn’t about us being uptight church people, it was about wanting the atmosphere of a serious arts workshop. Most of the crowd respected the rule, some said it made rapping more challenging, that it created more respect and brotherhood." After the venue closed at night, people would continue with battles in the parking lot. In December 1995, several notable performers established Project Blowed which became its own successful venue.
Lenny Kravitz,
Common,
Ice Cube,
Snoop Dogg,
will.i.am and
Macy Gray reportedly attended the open-mic, while artists such as
The Pharcyde,
Biz Markie,
Fat Joe,
Skee-Lo, and
Kurupt occasionally performed there. Good Life regulars
Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee came together to form
Jurassic 5. Other Good Life regulars included
Xzibit,
Monie Love, Chu Black, Dark Leaf, TrenSeta, Big Al, Quiet Storm,
Menace Clan,
Lenny Kravitz,
Common,
Snoop Dogg,
will.i.am,
Macy Gray,
Freestyle Fellowship,
The Righteous Family, Ahmad,
Pigeon John,
Abstract Rude,
Aceyalone, Chillin Villain Empire, Rifleman Ellay Khule,
Volume 10, Medusa, OMD,
2Mex The Visionaries,
Spoon Iodine,
Ganjah K, Fat Jack,
The Nonce,
The Pharcyde,
Biz Markie,
Fat Joe,
Skee-Lo,
Brand Nubian,
Kurupt,
N.W.A,
Jurassic 5,
Big Pun and
Chi-Ali The GoodLife Open Mics were hosted by individuals including Chu Black, J-Smoov of Dark Leaf, TrenSeta, Big Al, Quiet Storm, and Menace Clan's Jammin D. The final Good Life Open Mic show was held in September 1997 and was hosted by local Good Life emcee called Ink Rezin. The Good Life Health Food Centre closed in 1999. Regulars of the open mic night later founded
Project Blowed, a hip-hop workshop. ==References==