UNDIVIDED | Lyrical Opposition

This story reflects its original publication date. For current gatherings and opportunities, visit our calendar or contact Lyrical Opposition.

Two attendees seated together at the Undivided gathering.

Two attendees smiling at a small round table.

Guests talking inside the dimly lit venue.

Five attendees posing beside a merchandise table.

Attendee reclining on a sofa inside the venue.

Black-and-white portrait of a smiling attendee in a cap.

Group of young attendees posing together.

Two attendees posing beside a table with flowers.

Two guests posing together in the venue.

Two people seated behind a table of colorful wristbands.

Two attendees talking beside sound equipment.

Two smiling participants clasping hands.

Portrait of an attendee wearing a camouflage hat.

Two participants posing in front of the seated audience.

Three participants posing together near the stage.

Two participants posing with an arm around one another.

Black-and-white photo of a performer stepping across the stage.

Black-and-white photo of a performer beside a microphone stand.

Performer gesturing onstage under blue and purple lights.

Performer beneath a Fabian Sandoval projection.

A Historic First for Lyrical Opposition

On February 22, 2014, history was made as Lyrical Opposition hosted and produced its very first event ever: UNDIVIDED. This evening marked the beginning of what would eventually grow into a full-fledged nonprofit organization, dedicated to uniting communities and uplifting artists through positive, socially conscious artistry.

Side view of a performer facing the seated audience.

Performer addressing the audience beside a DJ table.

Two performers beneath a Godz Squad projection.

Performer in a red shirt raising an arm beneath a Christ Commissioned projection.

Group performing together across the stage.

Wide vertical view of a vocalist onstage.

Vocalist performing at a microphone under stage lights.

Vocalist beneath a Sarah Wallick projection.

Vocalist leaning toward the microphone beneath a Sarah Wallick projection.

Wide view from the back of the venue toward the illuminated stage.

Audience members seated and standing near the stage.

Black-and-white view of the audience raising hands.

Two vocalists performing beneath a Godz Squad projection.

Audience smiling and gesturing toward the performers.

Two vocalists and a DJ under purple stage lighting.

Performer wearing a beanie gesturing with an open hand.

Black-and-white view from the stage toward the audience.

Performer singing into a microphone beside the DJ table.

Two vocalists sharing the stage under purple lights.

Dancers moving beneath a Tiagatron projection.

Dancer performing at the front of the stage.

Dancer in a denim jacket performing beneath the Tiagatron projection.

Wide view of the blue-lit stage and audience.

Unity Through the Arts

Billed as “an annual event unifying and intersecting faith, culture and communities through the arts”, UNDIVIDED was more than just a showcase—it was a movement. The night began at City Life Church, 363 6th St, San Francisco with a networking and mixer hour at 6:00pm, where artists, community members, and leaders came together to connect across lines of faith, culture, and creativity. At 7:00pm, the program launched with a packed house eager to experience the blend of hip-hop, spoken word, music, dance, and multimedia artistry.

Black-and-white close view of a vocalist holding a microphone.

Vocalist performing in a dark hoodie under stage lights.

Side view of a performer facing a standing audience.

Solo performer holding a microphone under purple lights.

Black-and-white portrait of a dance group in matching shirts and suspenders.

Dance group performing beneath a Chosen 2 Step projection.

Dancers in matching shirts and suspenders moving in formation.

Close view of a smiling dancer during the group routine.

Vocalist with long hair performing in purple light.

Black-and-white photo of a vocalist with long hair.

Performers beneath a Garrett Girvan projection.

Performer addressing an audience seated close to the stage.

Performer in a checked shirt gesturing at the microphone.

View from the stage toward an energetic standing crowd.

Several performers facing the audience from the stage.

Performers raising microphones toward the audience.

Vocalists gathered at the front of the stage.

Solo vocalist gesturing beneath an Undivided projection.

Five attendees posing together inside the venue.

Three smiling attendees posing beside a wall with string lights.

Group of vocalists performing together across the stage.

Wide view of the stage beneath a Nash Quest projection.

Vocalist performing beside a DJ under purple lights.

A Star-Studded Lineup

Hosted by Brandon Santiago of Youth Speaks/Brave New Voices, the event featured a dynamic array of local Bay Area talent and Lyrical Opposition artists:

Son the Gifted (GFAM/Gifted For Another Ministry)
O.D. (GFAM/Lyrical Opposition)
GoodBrutha
Nash Quest (SF Arts Collective)
Sarah Wallick (Gracepoint/SFSU Koinonia)
Improv Jav (Colored Ink/City Life)
Alfluent (GFAM/Lyrical Opposition)
Garrett Girvan (Project Bayview)
Amanda Perez (SF Arts Collective)
Ale-Jhay (WF[102] Records)
Ambush Gambino/Goon (Godz Squad)
Syar Dali (The Mastrs)
Cross Allan (GFAM/Lyrical Opposition)
Fabian Sandoval
Tiagatron (Breakdancing/Popping)

The evening was anchored by a DJ set from House of Slap’s DJ Anointed, and supported visually through Eleven:1 Photography by Felix Uribe and videography by The End Media’s Aris Bran.

View from behind performers toward the standing crowd.

Two attendees smiling together in the venue.

Two participants posing together, one raising an arm.

Young child standing in front of seated attendees.

Group of young participants posing together.

Performer moving beneath a Nash Quest projection.

Performer extending an arm across the stage.

Low-angle view of a performer under purple lights.

Side view of a performer beside a microphone stand.

Adult bottle-feeding a baby in the audience.

Vocalist performing beneath a Fabian Sandoval projection.

Performer facing the audience from beside a stage monitor.

Vocalist and DJ beneath purple stage lighting.

Side view of a vocalist at the edge of the stage.

Performer in a red shirt raising an arm.

Attendees gathered near the back of the venue.

Group performing beneath a Christ Commissioned projection.

Close view of a vocalist beneath a Sarah Wallick projection.

Wide view of a vocalist at the center microphone.

Vocalist leaning toward a microphone beside the DJ table.

Performers gathered near sound equipment onstage.

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Building a Movement

What made UNDIVIDED truly special was not just the breadth of talent, but the spirit of unity and collaboration. Affiliates such as The Recording Academy, Breathe Life Radio, SF Arts Collective, and House of Slap came alongside Lyrical Opposition to amplify the impact of the night. For many, this was their first introduction to the vision and mission of Lyrical Opposition—creating spaces where art, faith, and community intersect.

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A Legacy Begins

The success of UNDIVIDED planted the seed for Lyrical Opposition’s future. Just one year later, the collective formally became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, ensuring sustainability and growth in its mission to serve artists and communities across the Bay Area and beyond.

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Gratitude & Acknowledgments

UNDIVIDED would not have been possible without the performers, affiliates, volunteers, and community members who came together to make the night a success. From powerful spoken word to high-energy dance, from soulful music to raw hip-hop lyricism, the event embodied its core purpose: bringing people together as one, through the arts.

Watch on YouTube

✨ UNDIVIDED was more than an event—it was the foundation of a movement that continues to thrive today. What started on February 22, 2014, in a church in San Francisco has since grown into years of programming, workshops, showcases, and community impact led by Lyrical Opposition.