DC rappers’ front porch sessions attract global audience
You may have seen the front porch freestyles of local rapper Noochie on your Instagram or YouTube feed, a trend rapidly gaining popularity among hip-hop and go-go enthusiasts.
Noochie, born Antwon Vincent, started recording his “Front Porch Freestyles” in 2017 to connect with fans. He admittedly didn’t put much thought into the iPhone-recorded videos back then. “I just went on my porch, put a speaker beside me, and rapped my ass off,” Noochie says.
Noochie was born in Northern Virginia but was raised between the family’s homes in Southeast D.C. and other parts of the city. “I grew up in the studio,” Noochie says. “Wherever the studio was, that’s where I was.”
He learned his business acumen from watching his father be a “leader among leaders.” He sat in on recording sessions where rappers turned real-life experiences into catchy verses about surviving D.C.’s violent environment.
Since 2017, Noochie has been organizing live band performances of hip-hop and go-go, reaching a wide audience. “I was just expressing my creativity; if people appreciate it, that’s great,” Noochie explained.
In 2016, he signed with Atlantic Records but felt dissatisfied with his short-lived stint with the record label and needed an outlet, which he found on his front porch. “I had to do something to showcase my skills,” Noochie remarked.
When he conceived the idea of launching a concert series on the front porch of his family’s residence in the DC area, he had no plans of sharing the spotlight. Disheartened by his brief one-year tenure with Atlantic Records in 2017, Noochie began recording himself free-styling over well-known hip-hop beats and sharing the results on social media.
His front porch has hosted some of the most prominent figures today in hip-hop and go-go, accompanied by a live band. Some liken it to NPR’s Tiny Desk concerts but set on the front steps of a rowhouse, highlighting local talent from the DMV area, such as Ms. Kim from Rare Essence, Big G from Backyard Band, and DJ Alizay from D.C. “People are telling me it’s revitalizing the city, re-energizing it,” Noochie said.
Additionally, it’s introducing go-go, D.C.’s signature music, to a global audience through social media’s vast reach. “The response from people worldwide has been astonishing; individuals from Louisiana, Spain, and Australia express their love for go-go. It’s unexpected but incredibly gratifying,” Noochie shared.
What initially began as a platform to showcase Noochie’s talent has evolved into a global movement. “Our initiative has contributed to a resurgence of go-go love, even though it never truly faded. From my perspective, I see a surge in go-go appreciation these days,” he reflected.
The outcome is “Noochie’s Live from the Front Porch Presents,” an online series that swiftly evolved into a significant showcase in an unusually relaxed setting. While NPR’s Tiny Desk concerts are an evident influence, Noochie reveals that his inspiration stemmed from a plethora of live music shows: “I took notes from The Arsenio Hall Show, Soul Train, Rap City, and MTV Unplugged.”
Once Noochie expanded beyond his solo performances, his audience grew to over 670,000 views on YouTube and Instagram Reels. The series’ videos have captured the interest of heavy hitters like NBA superstar Kevin Durant, Houston rapper Paul Wall, and rap icon Snoop Dogg, a Prince George’s County native.
During a recent visit to the Front Porch set to observe the recording of a guest episode featuring New Impressionz, Noochie was fully engaged in his role as a producer, ensuring that each take was flawless and every performance memorable.
While the ambiance may seem laid-back, the performances are notably top-notch. They boast exceptional sound and musicians invigorated by the familiar surroundings.
What is next for Noochie and his Front Porch Series? “For the artists who come on, I aim to deliver the finest rendition of their songs recorded live. I want them to rival the quality of a performance at the Grammy Awards,” he said.
Noochie says he’s recorded hundreds of songs that are ready to be released—he’s just been waiting for this exact moment, when everyone’s paying attention, to release a collection of his favorites. He shares that an album or mixtape is on the way.
