With The Audacity To Hope Quality Content Is the Will of the People
Rawkus Artist HEZEKIAH joins Grassroots Value Tour

Citing country music, Quincy Jones and Kool G Rap as influences, Hezekiah was undeniably born to be different.

On October 31, 2008 it was Hezekiah Davis' difference, vision, and his audacity to hope that moved him to join a grassroots tour centered on the will of the people. While the tour will provide him with good public relations and strategic fan building, Hezekiah's participation will also help bring increased visibility for the tour and help propel this conscious economic and community building movement into a positive success.

As a Rawkus recording artist, Hezekiah has some big shoes to fill. Mos Def and Talib Kweli are just two of the Rawkus 50 which have been deemed as "the next most important artists in hip hop." When Reelblack TV's host Lyrispect in an interview asked, "Looking at some of the talent that comes out of Rawkus... Do you feel there is a certain standard you need to rise to, that your work needs to be of a certain caliber?", Hezekiah answered, "Yeah, you got to at least match it. If you don't match it or surpass it, you don't be even need to be doing it." It was Hezekiah's ethics, creativity, style, and content that won over Carl Marshall, A&R rep for Optimus Entertainment Group, a sponsor of the BBS Value Tour that also serves as chair of the tour's talent commission.

The Black Business Space Value Tour is more than a performance tour, it is a grassroots movement that speaks to the businesses' and artists' commitment to the community and the community's commitment to its businesses, institutions, and artists. The tour manifests as an entertainment and business development product that is for the community; made from the community showcasing core values, fine art, performance artists, and businesses via a concert performance tour uniquely enhanced by fine art exhibits and a keepsake business resource publication. The tour missions to create opportunities for visual and performance artists, and business members of Black Business Space, to increase their fan and customer base and brand awareness while creating a synergy of community loyalty and support. The tour also missions to give back to the community through hands on community service and cause marketing that leverages members' businesses in support of non-profit causes. BBS Value Tour is an extension of the Black Business Space experience. Black Business Space is a program of the National Black Business Trade Association. Lee Green is the Founder and President.

Music is second nature to Hezekiah, as he was raised in a musical family in Chester, PA, just outside of Philadelphia. At an early age he soaked up his parents predilection for Blues (Otis Redding and Bo Diddley) and belting out God's greatest hits at his family's church; and before long Hezekiah was singing in his Uncle's band, the Funk Disciples (who dropped some super hard-to-find wax in the mid-70’s).

But it was getting up with the Legendary Roots Crew in '93 that spurred him to get down to business. Hezekiah then began to work his way up through the ranks of the Philly’s ever-strong and flourishing Hip Hop scene with his on point wordplay, superior songwriting, and lovely production skills—working with the likes of Musiq Soulchild, Bilal, The Jazzyfatnastees and Bahamadia.

In 2005 Hezekiah's debut album Hurry Up & Wait (a title dedicated to the woes of the independent artist), was released on New York's Soulspazm Records to critical praises by Vibe, Trace, XLR8R, Allhiphop.com, Pitchforkmedia.com, okayplayer.com and also included on Itunes “Best Of 2005” list among many others.

In addition, he's the driving force behind and member of the influential Beat Society. Renowned for his live performances, Hezekiah has opened up for Mos Def and toured globally including with Rawkus' Live In The Fresh Tour in Spring of 2008.

Hezekiah is currently working on three projects to released in early 2009, including one with Johnny Popcorn, the rock band he is part of. His sophomore LP, "I Predict A Riot", was released on September 18, 2007 courtesy of Rawkus/Soulspazm Records. "I Predict A Riot" features collaborations with a who’s who list of Philly artists including Freeway, Bilal, Jaguar Wright and Chief Kamachi among others. While Hezekiah continues to flex his chops behind the boards, he also handles the majority of the production for most of his projects from his studio in his bedroom.

April 2009 begins the concert performance leg of the BBS Value Tour. Other tour headliners include Optimus Entertainment Group's upcoming mega talents David Chance, formerly of R&B sensation Ruff Endz, and Link, who was written for Kci and JoJo, Gerald LeVert and more. The tour will showcase over twenty artists in the genres of jazz, hip hop, R&B, gospel, spoken word, comedy, theatre/film, film making, photography, fashion design, and visual art. MBL Records heads up artists promotions and will host an open call showcase in each city where the winner earns the opportunity to open up the BBSVT concert. Jacqueline Taylor-Adams, CMO of The Master Griot Project, is the creator of and coordinator for the tour.

Hezekiah laments "I'm not a conscious rapper; I just have something to say. I’m a nerd, a freak, a geek, but I’m dangerous. This is the start of something new.” For booking and additional information about the BBS Value Tour, contact Jacqueline Taylor-Adams at 267.292.5124 or info@bbsvaluetour.com.

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