Seven years ago, music director and drummer Lenny “The Ox” Reece formed The Lesson GK (GK standing for Gentei Kaijo)- a live hip-hop, dub, and improv funk group comprised of some of hip-hop’s biggest names in backing musicians, including members of the touring bands for Reggie Watts, SZA, Lupe Fiasco, Run DMC and many more. Feeling a lack of musical fulfillment in his life, Reece organized the project in the hopes that it would feed his soul and serve as a place to shed the social stigmas that surrounded him, including homophobia and toxic masculinity.
Since 2015, the group has performed live at Arlene’s Grocery in a weekly residency that sells out nearly every show. The Lesson GK’s seamless blend of experimental hip-hop, jazz, R&B, funk, and progressive soul has manifested as a powerful live performance finely tuned over their 400 shows since its formation. What started as a collaborative weekly jam session has grown into a cornerstone of the NYC underground music scene.
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