The Good Life Health Food Centre's weekly
open-mic night started in December 1989 on the corner of Crenshaw & Exposition. Promoted by B. Hall and her son R/KainBlaze with his friends The Mighty O-Roc and The Dynamic Flow, KNGR: The Underground Radio at the Good Life offered a workshop-like atmosphere for aspiring MCs, poets and musicians to hone their craft. 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 had to end the performance promptly. In addition, there was a strict policy that no cursing was allowed. 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."
Ice Cube,
Snoop Dogg,
will.i.am,
Common,
Macy Gray, and
Lenny Kravitz 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
Freestyle Fellowship,
Pigeon John,
Abstract Rude, Chillin Villain Empire, Rifleman Ellay Khule,
Volume 10, Medusa, Figures of Speech, OMD, Spoon Iodine, Ganjah K, Fat Jack, and
Emcee N.I.C.E., among many others. == Festivals and awards ==