Hood Rave's Fight for Justice and Solidarity

In the heart of DTLA, the night burns— smoke clouds the air, voices rise against ICE, and innocent people are being displaced, but yet still, we rave. HOOD RAVE, a Black woman–owned, multidisciplinary underground rave in LA, gathers with purpose: to stand in solidarity with Gaza, to stand against ICE, and to boycott the popular Boiler Room—once a hub for music culture, now under KKR Investments, criticized for links to Israel.

On September 20, 2025, activism pulsed through music and the underground—but when police raided the Hood Rave event, the community came together, proving that resistance can be moved but never silenced.

"We wanted to throw this rave to connect LA night life with people all over the world and to stand in solidarity... We do not believe in blood money" -BAE BAE (Hood Rave Founder)

Flyer for Rhythm to Revolt Boycott

So What Happened?

On Saturday, Sept 20th, Hood Rave, ran by BAE BAE, threw a fundraiser rave for Gaza Mutual Aid Solidarity & The Immigrant Defense Fund, also to tell Boiler room that "music events are not to be sold to culture-washing institutions" in boycott. Within the first hour, local police were notified and prevent people from entering the building, standing outside, to prevent the space from being entered.

ICE police officers, preventing people to enter the event space where the rave was held.

The Boiler Room Protest and Blood Money:

Performative activism from Boiler Room often raises the question of whether underground culture can survive under corporate influence. Sure, the platform has highlighted Palestinian DJs—but their ties to KKR make us question their authenticity. Blood money is the term used when the money comes from sources tied to exploitation and war. This isn’t just about spotlighting marginalized voices; it’s about who controls the narrative, who profits, and whether the culture itself is being shaped to appeal to investors rather than the communities that built it.

What Now?

Music is used to bring people together a lit our consiosus. As the former Asata Shakur demonstrated, we continue to fight the good fight and fight against big isnitutions. We continue to fight.