A Newcomer Takes in LA on Lock's Underground 420 Fest

Let’s start with a confession. This article is being written by a cannabis neophyte. But who better, to truly relay the experience of an Underground 420 Fest than someone experiencing it for the first time?

Sure, we could share the take of a Snoop Dogg level smoker, but those that relate on that level, already know what it’s like to experience one of these sesh type events. On the other hand, a new user like myself, is still walking the path of discovery while learning about the culture, the strains, the very terminology and landscape of California’s complex marijuana landscape.

For me the experience wasn’t Mary Janes last dance, but more like a second date with her and her magical pain killing aura. Apologies to Tm Petty for what I did there.  

I’ve been reviewing music and writing the occasional article for LA on Lock for several years, but of course the world was locked down in Covid times for most of that so this was my first opportunity to take part in LA on Lock’s annual 420 event.

Travis Erwin at his first Underground 420 Fest

I told myself I was going more for the music than the weed, but from Snoop to Petty to Willie Nelson and a whole host of other talented artists across multiple genres, cannabis is as key to the creation of music as a steady beat and a tasty lyrical phrase. Despite my decade long efforts, my guitar skills are about as strong as my puff puff pass game so for the most part I’ve been an observer and listener rather than a creator and partaker.

Time for another confession. Despite the fact I stand six-foot five and weigh two-fifty I can’t inhale. I can, but I shouldn’t because I hack and cough and basically ruin the good effects with by coughing up both lungs and my pancreas. I’ve dabbled with edibles, vapes, and THC-infused drinks but my go to ingestion method is tinctures. Just laying it out there I have experienced some of my best sex and best sleep (not at the same time but occasionally the former does precede the latter) while using tinctures. I dose myself every night and doing so has been life changing for me as I’ve struggled with insomnia all my life until I discovered the magic of THC tinctures formulated for sleep.

That is the background and mindset I took into the 2023 version of LA on Lock’s Underground 420 Fest.

When I arrived, a handful of eager festival goers stood by, waiting for the doors to open. I joined them and enjoyed a variety of conversations with the diverse crowd lined up to get in. I chatted with perky twenty-somethings, guys in their sixties that I’m pretty sure spent some of their formative years touring with the Grateful Dead, and took part in a heady debate whether LA is a baseball or basketball town with a handful of guys spanning the gap between. There were four-legged friends as well.

My point is, the event drew people of all ages, various races, and everyone mingled together in absolute harmony. Even the one guy who tried to make an erroneous case that the Rams actually have an avid fan base and the city is becoming a football town as a result. But I’m from Texas and I’ve seen what avid football fans look like so all the weed in the world couldn’t convince me that idea held logic.

I digress.

Outside the door, SumThin 4 ur Mouth Catering offered up food, drinks and snacks for those in line as well as anyone who wanted to step out and grab a bite during the event. I had the Philly Cheese steak a bit later in the night and I wasn’t disappointed. I meant to grab some food from Pastaplug.la but the night got away from me and I never had the pleasure but their offering sure looked and smelled great. Elite Eatz was also on hand and again I didn’t have the stomach room to try any of their offerings though I did a steady moving line indulging in what they had to offer. The event had plenty of food an beverage options for those who couldn’t resist their rising hunger.

But let’s talk about the main event of any 420 event -- Magical Marijuana. An array of knowledgeable growers, vendors, and connoisseurs were on hand. For a newbie like myself this was a golden chance to ask about strains, consumption methods, and the best way to achieve the desired outcome. Some people are just looking to get high and have fun, others are looking for relief of anxiety or tension. Headaches, back pain, inflammation, and of course the old glaucoma we’ve all joked about at some point in time. Marijuana and all its derivatives have something f      to help all of these things and more and I discovered a few new tricks meandering around talking to those far more knowledgeable than myself about this powerful plant and its natural abilities to help us.

I recommend you attend this event or one near you next year and seek out knowledge from the  likes of C Stix, Keke, American Apothecary, Trust Hydroponics, Trust-CBD, and Penthouse Sweets. I spoke to representatives from all these vendors and learned from each of them. Events like this is a great way to gain knowledge so you can try new things and find the products that work for you.

Of course, weed culture is huge as well and there were a number of vendors selling shirts, dominos, hats, stickers, bongs, pipes, all designed to fit the lifestyle and mindset. CKingBeauty will make you look and feel good with their services and products, many of which are hemp based.

Speaking of artful beauty, WHATSKISHADOING had her creations on display and demonstrated her talents with some live painting.

Mr. Brand New provided games from rapid fire nerf balls gun that were as fun to fire off in fully automatic fashion to video games, basketball pong and more. This added to the fun festive environment and everyone I saw taking part was doing so with laughter and smiles.

Of course, I didn’t see wany one at the event that wasn’t in a good mood. Perhaps good deals and good weed is what society needs to step back and realize life is too short for the crazy frantic pace and unnecessary animosity. So prevalent these days.

The music got going later in the night and like the rest of the event there was simple more to dig in and enjoy than I can share here. If I’m honest the night caught up to me and in my euphoria I didn’t catch every name and introduction. The events was MC’s by @youknowfresh with @djyas_theempress providing the music. Performances from @comptonav @adrielcalaway @youngceno @kingofturnuppookiefnrude @guttagone @stevedamarofficial @upallnyt107 @officialyt1 @beachmcgee @the2tonetwinss @moriwhite @tamanijo @deuce.biggs @_itsladyyy and @liildrawzz were on the billing and the crowd was into the scene for the duration.

I perhaps overdid myself and had to step outside for some air through some of it and that is my only regret of the night. Can’t wait to attend LA on Lock future events including this one in 2024.  

My apologies to the vendors, performers, caterers, creatives etc. that I did not get a chance to speak to and include here. I’ll catch y’all next year.

Travis Erwin is a blogger and music reviewer for LA on Lock as well as other music outlets. He is the author of four novels, a memoir, and countless short stories. Contact him @Travis Erwin

#LAonLockExclusive: DJ Specs

DJ Specs has been climbing the hill all his life. Both figuratively, as he’s worked to build a name in a business that is notoriously tough to carve out a reputation, and literally, as a proud son of Victorville and the surrounding High Desert. Climbing back up the pass on I-15 is something he must do every time he returns home from gigs in and around LA.

Because he’s been so ardent and determined to stake his place among the best, DJ Specs now has more opportunities to perform down the hill at prominent headlining events. One climb feeds the other, but the ascent has never been easy. Specs, a moniker bestowed upon him by his mom, turned his passion for music into a profession at an age when most kids were busy playing Minecraft. DJ Specs on the other hand was honing his craft with turntables and microphones and by studying the techniques of others such as DJ Blend.

The early haters nearly deterred him, but after a start and stop beginning, Specs truly launched his career in high school as an in-demand DJ for house parties and by hosting his own events. He'll be the first to say he couldn’t have done any of that without the support of his mother and after fighting through those early detractors, Specs had established his presence when his world and support was ripped apart by his mom’s passing. He considers 2020 the worst year of his life.

Of course, the world was on fire for us all that year, but the untimely loss of his mother left Specs reeling. No man walks alone, so with help from respected mentors in the business, and members of his family, DJ Specs came back from his grief with an even stronger desire to do both his mother, and his city proud.   

Known for his crowd engaging style, DJ Specs doesn’t sit back and wait for the crowd’s energy to feed him. Instead, he feeds the crowd and then together their energies merge and swirl into an unstoppable frenzy. A historian in many realms, but especially music, Specs prides his ability to connect and reach audiences of various ages and musical tastes. Call it universal appeal if you will, but truly it’s the result of hard work, research, and the right personality to entertain without letting ego dictate what the crowd wants, no, scratch that, needs to hear.   

“Growing up, I never had much attention on myself,” DJ Specs said. “As a DJ, I’m my own team. It’s a one-man sport, so the vibe of any party or event relies on what I do to keep everyone’s emotions high.” But there are a lot of fans in the seats these days, rooting on that one-man team and Specs takes that responsibility to heart because their good time relies on the mood he sets. And other artists who share the stage, rely on him to create the perfect environment for them to work and succeed. While DJ Specs works alone on stage to cultivate the right vibe, he carries the weight of others during his climb. He’s appeared with and in support of artists like A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Rick Dunk, Bino Rideaux, 03 Greedo, RJMRLA, Blueface, and Saviii 3rd to name a few.

Energy and positivity are trademarks of Spec’s style, and he exudes both as a Ratchet-style DJ hellbent to give every member of his audience a reason to smile and move and remember the show. “The projects or music I use will be relevant to my audience. That’s how I keep them entertained. Something as simple as me telling a story or sharing a message along with the tracks I select makes a difference. I spend a tremendous amount of time doing research to create something fresh and original.”

His favorite moment thus far was bringing his young son on stage and sharing his passion with him, but like all hard-working parents DJ Specs struggles when his performances take time away from being a father. Conversely, it is the love of family that helps make some moments on stage extra special. On the one-year anniversary of his mom’s passing, DJ Specs found himself headlining a stadium show in his own city. “It felt like it was meant to be,” Specs said. “She watched me with the greatest seat in the house. She was with me on that night for sure.”

On that night, every step of the climb was worth it. But DJ Specs isn’t the type to step back and relax. No, he recalls the early days when he lost friends to shootings and the time one of his own events at a hookah lounge led to gunfire and his own car getting shot up with him inside. Only seventeen at the time, DJ Specs understands his good fortune to have escaped lasting trouble. Probably more than most, since his own father was shot at young age and those wounds resulted in a loss of vision that has prevented kept Spec’s father from ever having the joy of seeing his son’s face.

Another step in the climb that would leave some thinking … no, it’s too steep, I’ll stop here and rest. Not DJ Specs. He’s kept going through all the challenges. Kept reaching for that “Fire & Desire” if you will, because we all have to start over now and again. Speaking of Drake, DJ Specs hopes to one day work with the artist, because he feels they share the same knack for delving into the personal emotions to create something unique and different.

DJ Specs continues to climb, and he does so with thoughts on his mom, his son, doing right by the artists he works with, and of course he does it all with an ear to the ground so he can deliver something special and memorable to the fans that come out to see him. This allows them to get lost in the music for a little while and forget their own climbs. Leading them to that place is DJ Specs, the fun-loving and talented DJ that keeps that beat pumping and the energy going.

Newport - Up and Coming "Rhythm And Clues" [Mixtape]

South Central rapper Newport, has been putting down and really showing out for the Rollin 60's crips. Newport came through back in 2016 with his first full length mixtape 'Local Celebrity' under STU & Playball record labels. Aquairing a global fan base as far as Japan to the U.k. and everywhere inbetween especially the streets of LA. He has really put his mark on the industry with his distinctive sharpe voice, hood sound and lyrics about his street experiences and especially his women. 

"Versatile, a new hood sound, for the ladies n the players out here"

- Newport

His debut mixtape titled 'Rhythm and Clues' is set to be released on May 7th under STU entertainment label, pre order link coming soon, so make sure you lock it in. After causing a buzz after dropping a few new tracks 'Trap on boom' and 'Planz' and also releasing the visuals for 'City I Live In' featuring fellow R60's crip Cuzzy Capone of his 'Local Celebrity' project, visuals shot by Play Bacc Films, leaving fans counting down the days until release date.

Newport has features from some of LA's finest for his debut project 'Rhythm and Clues' Artists confirmed are Conradfrmdaaves, Teecee 4800, Rimpau, Pussy Rich, Savauage Rache and Cuzzy Capone.

Instagram @da_famous_newport @conradfrmdaaves @iamcuzzycapone @greg_preece @LaOnLock @e5dzyne