MC Intelligence 

  This whole music adventure started out a long time ago in Davis CA. in the eighties.  Roommate Mark Groesbeck and RA would help start a band called "Affirmative Action."  They played ska and would open for a lot of ska bands that would come through the UCDavis - Sacramento areas.  They opened for the "Untouchables" in Berkeley before the big game against Stanford in Sproul Plaza.   After opening for Fishbone they wanted "AA" to go on tour with them but they had classes the next morning to go to so they had to decline.  

  After working with Rudy Ramos on all the skateboard music projects   RA started doing hip-hop!  In "Universal Joint"  RA aka Intel would get the chance to open for the Wu Tang Clan in Downtown Oakland.   Soon he was part of the "FreeStyle Champs" a crew of people repping the four elements of hip-hop real serious.  In this crew "FSC" while rhyming your written verses if you messed up you had to run around the block which would make you more in shape for live performances.  Sometime this crew would even battle at practice just to keep each other tight.  This band would do pro skateboarder Mike York's music in the Girl/Chocolate skateboard movie called "Mouse".  After "FSC" RA-MCIntel went on to perform with highly acclaimed Latin jazz percussionist/drummer Josh Jones in his band "Hueman Flavor".  In this band Mc Intel played the San Francisco & Seattle Jazz festivals.  Plus had a weekly Wednesday gig at model Christy Turlingtons SF Up & Down Club.  This gave RA the connection to start & host a hip-hop night at the Up & Down Club on Monday  called "the Red Light" where  his partner Magdalena plus Dj/Mc Lymus & Dj B-Love did a successful night in Ms Turlingtons club for good minute.  In this club artist from "Freestyle Fellowship" to "George Clinton" would entertain those that came through on Monday nights. RA also had the time to link up with Linda Tillery and be a part of her childrens hip-hop record with artist like Taj Mahal, Maria Muldaur and Sheila E..  RA/Intel did a track with Sheila E about a black dancer before "Jolson" named "Juba". Solo openings for artist like"Digital Underground" have fueled this artist on.   MCIntel would hook up with another highly acclaimed bay area artist Adam Theis in his band called "School Of Lou". .   Theis then formed the band called "Cannonball" which played Cannonball Adderly beautiful jazz music & Intel became its first lyricist.  Recorded a live album and did countless shows before embarking on his solo music career.  Recently MC Intelligence has had the honor of playing two sold out shows with Jason Moran & Bandwagon at the San Francisco Jazz Center. Intell would link again with Jason Moran for 12 days in front of the Kennedy Center with other musicians like Chuck Treece, Ray Barbee & HR from Bad Brains.  Jason Moran also invited RA,Andy Mac,Jordyn Barret Natalie Krishna Das along with talented musicians Tarus Mateen, Kimberly Thompson & Chuck Treece to play in Michigan for the U of Michigan Musical Society in an event called "Falling Up and Getting Down"!  RA/MCIntell loves Detroit where he played "Rosa Parks Boys Place" a skate/ artist spot where he returned on his "Never Stopped east /midwest tour this september 2014!

 RA along with his friend Rudy Ramos also made music in those classic H-St. videos with bands like "Sir Lady Java","Black Dress Theory" & "Loopzilla".

 Ron’s been doing music and eMcing, for over 30 years.  He has had the pleasure of performing with many talented musicians over the years such as Del tha Funky Homosapien Digital Underground,Chuck Treece (McRad,Bad Brains), Nas , Wu Tang Clan & many more.   He also was the first hip-hop emcee to play at the San Francisco Jazz Festival.  He did this performing with Josh Jones band called "Hueman Flavor"in the 90's . 

  His art & music were featured in Headphone Nation, his signature shoe on Osiris that came out in 2007 with a CD compilation of years of Ron’s music where hip-hop had a strong influence. But most people know his art from his different skateboard companies:  Life, Fun, American Dream, Heeterz, and Energy Skateboards. Another place where hip-hop played a role. .

 RA has been giving back through Positive Skateboard Experience, his skateboard camps and events in Northern California, and his YouTube webisode the SK8RonAllenShow.  The SK8RonAllenShow has been on for over five years and is now on episode 72 with several bonus shows.  The shows features D.I.Y. spots, pro skaters like Lance Mountain, Mikey Taylor, and of course skateboarding and skate stories by RA plus his music.

wall ride photo by JBohl

 main site photo MPoehlman