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Raashan Ahmad

@raashan

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MC / DJ / Artist / ED @vitalspacesnm
Following the wind.

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Please watch and share! Here’s the background. About 6 months ago mutual friends connected me and Kaela. (@kaelawaldstein) She reached out via messenger and I thought she was reading my thoughts. I had an inkling of an idea but didn’t know how to go about it (the universe works perfectly…). I knew her work as a videographer/documentarian and she was looking for a project, not something she was hired to do, but something meaningful to her.
We linked up and (as creatives do) flew around a bunch of ideas. Kaela saw it could go in 100 directions, but at the center was how music drives everything I do and keeps me human. That would be the heart of the film.
So she just started filming. Following me to events and meetings, camera in hand, watching the story unfold.
Flash forward and it’s taking shape! She submitted a version of this trailer for a city grant and got it, and the story has expanded beyond me to our arts community and city, in these days and times.
What she’s been catching is the experience of trying to build a sustainable community arts org and be in right-relationship with folks. I keep thinking the model of leaning on a handful of amazing funders and grants just isn’t it. It literally doesn’t work.
Which is one reason I’m asking you to share. We need you.
Over the past 5 years, 99.9% of what we’ve done at @vitalspacesnm has been free - Juneteenth, Hip Hop Fest, Art Closet, vendor markets, dance parties, classes, workshops and more. We’re asking you to help support the work of making room for artists and creatives in our city.
I’ve been in more than a few meetings where people ask if we have community support. So I’m asking for that. Financial support to be clear.
If you’d put $5 on it at a show, give $1 a month for 5 months. If you’d pay $20 for a class, show or event, give $2 a month for a year.
It’s not just the amount. Monthly donations show community buy-in and honestly help morale, knowing this work is meaningful to y’all.
The link to donate is in my bio. Please share and follow @wegotthisdoc for updates.
And thank you for everything you’ve given already. Money is one way, but the love, energy, hugs and good words by @raashan

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2 months ago

After my last album release I’ve learned a lot playing solo shows and featuring with friends. Stepping into a new album and planning my spring summer tour. Actively booking now for Europe, U.S., Japan and more. If you’d like me in your venue or city hit me with a dm. I’m so damn excited to share my new music and show! by @raashan

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8 years ago

Yeeesssssss!!!!’ Yall this space has meant so much and in the short amount of time we’ve been here sooooo much goodness has happened but we’ve been on a month to month lease and haven’t been able to long term vision or plan or really plant seeds BUT we’re excited to announce we’ve just signed a 2 year lease and we here!!! We even got a sign and something about being visible and seen from the street as people drive by just I dunno…all the feels. Thanks so much to the property owners and good folks at Geltmore for working with us to make this happen (extra shout to our longtime homie and board member @christopherrwebster too for the good work 🙌🏾) and all yall who have been making this space so good. More to come but for now yay!!!! Come party with is next Friday 🙌🏾❤️❤️❤️🎉 by @raashan

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2 months ago

I got I got I got life…
Reminder
❤️ by @raashan

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12 days ago

My video for the Mayors award for excellence in the arts! Had a wonderful time at the ceremony and here’s the video the city made and played after @oriana1ee ‘s intro (which literally had me all teary eyed, thanks again for seeing me O!) such a dope crew of awardees to be a part of and yeah…just grateful I get to do what I do. I love this city and love the arts and creativity and culture and passion and all of it. Thanks to everyone for the good words of encouragement , appreciation, and patience as I navigate all the things (I know I be falling short sometimes but I be trying)…I feel it and truly appreciate it. ❤️❤️🥹 big thanks to @santafeartsandculture and @mayormichaelgarcia for the evening and honor! by @raashan

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17 days ago

Early dance party!

This Friday issa Dance Party (5-8)
Soul. Funk. Hip hop. Disco. House. Afrobeat. Brazilian things. Latin things. Old things. New things. Songs you forgot about. Songs you’ve never heard. No rules about what fits next to what. Just records that make me feel something and hopefully make you move.
Basically... vibes and stuff!

Come dance. Come hang. Good drinks, good peeps. Bring a friend / Meet a friend
Friday, September 18
5–8pm at @aasb.lounge

Also Albuquerque I’m coming back. Saturday was 🔥

Spread the word! by @raashan

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a month ago

Been seeing that when life runs Raashan ragged, @melissafricek is there being the glue that holds him together. And really everyone at @vitalspacesnm through its crazy growth! 😱 by @raashan

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a month ago

Long story short.
Our Northern cali Hip Hop culture had me and Roshaun moving around each other back in the day (shoutout his crew Righteous Movement!). Flash forward a decade and more and Alice who ran @createstartups asks me to join her in Sacramento to teach classes for creative entrepreneurs with an organization called @cltre_sacramento and lo and behold who running it? The homie Roshaun! I’m entering the community non-profit world and then I’m in Sac, “teaching” but also soaking up game from Ro, Holly and the CLTRE team. I’d be back in New Mexico trying to figure out things not liking the non profit world, feeling like the way people were telling me how to do a thing was completely out of alignment with how I’ve moved my entire life and I’ll holler at Ro and be like yo how’d you do this? Or how would you think about this or any other gaps I’m not seeing and he’d start doing the same. We’d call each other for support but also sometimes just to be like bruh listen to this nonsense…or explain things in hip hop analogies like “nah man it’s like how the Wu Tang Clan did it lol” Anyway, we’d float this idea of how many other folks with similar backgrounds or culture would benefit from the kind of support and likemindedness we were exchanging and came up with “CLTRE exchange” where we’d invite folks from different cities to come see what’s happening in one of our cities, explain how we were thinking about it all and exchanging ideas, strategies, movements and do it in a way that didn’t feel like another conference but felt like…us. So anyway we did it! (Ro and Holly DID It ) Sacramento was the first city and people came from Philadelphia, Detroit, San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Fe, of course Sacramento and places in between. 3 days and it was beautiful! Anyway m, it’s happening and beautiful and needed and growing! Next one is in spring in Santa Fe! (more on that soon). Heres a video the CLTRE team put together. Peep! 👀🫶🏽🙌🏾🔥 by @raashan

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a month ago

LOVE & HAPPINESS: ALBUQUERQUE ❤️🕺🏾🔥
Albuquerque, we’re coming to dance with youuuu!
After years of throwing this party in Santa Fe, we’re bringing Love & Happiness to Albuquerque for the very first time.

Issa joyful, sweaty, dance party with DJ Raashan Ahmad spinning soul, funk, disco, R&B, house, remixes, classics, and more.

Come as you are. Bring a friend. Meet a friend. Please spread the word! Sat. Sept 12th - 8-11 - no cover at @marblebrewery by @raashan

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a month ago

Found some pics!
1. Me and the homies (@winston629, Colgate, and Bungee) used to rollerblade all over the place in LA (@sinister71 you got any of us???). I think here we were rolling around Westwood and UCLA.
2.Mission photo shoot with me @moepope and @headnodic in Mission Hill in Roxbury MA
3. My first group (ready for this name?) Da’ Nappyheadz 😂🤦🏾‍♂️ with Bungee and LP (@allcityfilms )and Flawless (I’m flawless…😅)
Ahhh good times 🙌🏾

Peace peace fam! by @raashan

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2 months ago

Hey y’all

So…
As you may know, almost everything we do at Vital Spaces is entirely free and accessible to the public. But on September 20, we are doing something a little different to help sustain that mission (we’re charging to make money for the org :). We are taking over the Opera Club at the Santa Fe Opera for our first-ever benefit event, and before we announce it to the broader public, we wanted to invite our core community first.

We’re hosting an exclusive pre-show party leading into an unforgettable concert under the stars with two legends: Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’.

Standard seats for this concert completely sold out months ago. However, we have just 70 special benefit tickets available. Not only does your ticket guarantee you a seat to this otherwise sold-out show, but it also grants you access to our Opera Club pre-show party featuring incredible food, drinks, art, and, best of all, a rare chance to personally meet Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’!

It’s been an incredible year for Vital Spaces, one filled with growth, new spaces, thousands of people coming together, and more opportunities for artists to create and share their work. Because this is a fundraising benefit, your ticket purchase provides the essential support we need to carry this momentum into our next chapter and keep our day-to-day programming free for everyone.

Come eat. Have a drink. Meet some incredible artists. Enjoy an unforgettable night with two living legends at one of the most beautiful venues anywhere. If you already have tickets and want to join, dm us on how to join the pre-party.

These will sell out, Get your tickets now at vitalspaces.org! by @raashan

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2 months ago