4:00 PM PACIFIC TIME: MONDAYS - FRIDAYS
Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting. Hosts Davey D and Anita Johnson give voice to issues ignored by the mainstream while planting seeds for social change.
On Hard Knock Radio, Davey D spoke with Professor Butch Ware—hip hop artist, activist, and Green Party vice presidential candidate—about the deep links between culture, politics, and resistance. Ware opened the convo by emphasizing that music and hip hop aren’t just art—they’re tools for spiritual and political survival. Drawing on West African griot traditions, he called … Continued
Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.
This week on Hard Knock Radio, Davey D sat down with Rachel Wolkenstein—longtime attorney and advocate for political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. Gearing up for the upcoming Freedom Tour, Rachel breaks down the real story behind Mumia’s 43-year incarceration: a case rooted in FBI surveillance, COINTELPRO tactics, corrupt Philadelphia cops, and a justice system built to … Continued
Host Davey D speaks with Freewheelin’ Frank Sterling, Marvin Hall, Jennifer Arboleda, Melvin Wilson, and Bella Quinto on the continued fight for justice in Contra Costa County. Antioch Under Scrutiny Hard Knock Radio traveled to Contra Costa County to spotlight the unrest brewing in Antioch and surrounding cities. Host Davey D opened the conversation by … Continued
The Political Push to Defund Diversity In a wide-ranging conversation on Hard Knock Radio, education leader and cultural scholar Dr. Michael Benitez issued a stark warning: “We’re watching academic freedom and democracy get hollowed out in real time.” Dr. Benitez, a former university vice president and longtime advocate for equity in higher ed, joined Davey D to break down … Continued
In this powerful episode of Hard Knock Radio, Davey D brings together a trio of cultural powerhouses—spoken word trailblazers Ursula Rucker and Jessica Care Moore, alongside cultural historian and artist Kwadwo Deterville—to honor the expansive legacy of Roy Ayers. A true connector across generations, cities, and musical movements, Ayers was remembered with love, laughter, and deep reverence. Roy Ayers: Beyond ‘Everybody Loves the Sunshine’ Most … Continued
Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.
Policing the Crisis: Tim Redmond Breaks Down the City’s New Direction Budget Cuts, Housing Deficits, and the Cost of Cleaning Up the Streets In a recent Hard Knock Radio conversation, host Davey D spoke with journalist Tim Redmond of 48 Hills about major political and policy shifts in San Francisco under Mayor Daniel Lurie’s administration. … Continued
In a crucial discussion, Hard Knock Radio host Davey D interviews Dr. Rosa Clemente, a journalist, political activist, and former vice-presidential candidate. They discuss the rising threats to education, civil rights, and the broader implications of political shifts in the U.S. The Attack on Education and Civil Rights Dr. Rosa Clemente warns that an executive order could soon dismantle … Continued
On this episode of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sat down with Dr. Rickey Vincent, a music historian, author of Party Music and Funk: The Rhythm on the One, and host of History of Funk on KPFA. The discussion centered on the legacy of Roberta Flack, the Chicago sound, and the recent passing of … Continued
