Friday Night Cypher: PRXFET Inspires with Immersive Hip-Hop Experience

PRXFET (Photo provided)

Nearly every month, at various locales across the city such as Amy’s Place, there’s a special night set aside that focuses on providing an in-depth look at Buffalo’s deep bench of hip-hop talent. It’s called the Friday Night Cypher, which aims to move the feet, heads and bodies of those who flock to these distinctive performances.

The Cypher is hosted by 38-year-old Larry Walker, known as PRXFET — (pronounced ‘prophet’) — who came to Buffalo by way of his native Brooklyn while in high school.

While growing up in New York City, PRXFET was trending toward a life on the mean streets until fate intervened in the form of a forced move to Western New York. It was a move, he said, that essentially saved his life and gave him a chance to share his talents and live up to the potential others saw in him, both academically and musically.

Here, he found himself surrounded by artists like Benny the Butcher, Conway the Machine and Westside Gunn – all of whom inspired young rappers like himself to create. It was an experience, PRXFET said, for which he remains grateful.

“Benny has always been a humble dude, but he worked,” PRXFET said. “He just came out with album after album at a time when I was really trying. The beauty of it was they were really cracking it with Westside Gunn. I appreciate everything they did. There’s so much talent in this city. I’m just so grateful they kicked in the back door.”

These days, PRXFET is making and releasing his own music, which can be found HERE.

“I’m doing singles; seeing how people love it and respond,” he said. “It comes with a lot of opportunities. I’m doing a lot of collaborations, and I’m in a lot of features. I’m keeping myself busy.”

The Friday Night Cyphers, PRXFET said, are meant to be just as immersive as his own work, centered on the idea of creating an “experience” for those listening and viewing, and combining music with film for a “cinematic” feel that, when mixed with audience engagement, transforms each Cypher into complete pieces of creative theater.

As they gain in popularity, PRXFET noted he’s cautious about overkill, which is why he has not set upon a fixed schedule. To him, every night a Cypher runs should be special, and he’s committed to creating an interactive experience through freestyle challenges, guest interviews, and games that engage the audience.

“We want the crowd to be involved as much as the artist is involved,” PRXFET said. “Between interviews and making the Cyphers fun, I think that really puts it over the edge.”

It's all about inspiring people.

“A lot of young artists that have come on our stage, who are already inspired, say we’ve further inspired them,” PRXFET said. “It’s the greatest feeling in the world.”

“This is the greatest time to be alive,” PRXFET added. “The median age is 50. We have a wide range of listeners, and they show up. So, I don’t think I’ll ever be old enough to be out of it. Like I say: whether I’m behind the mic, or behind the camera, or in production, I’ll be doing something.”

For now, that “something” is helping young artists with their budding musical careers and aspirations, as PRXFET shows his faith in them just as others did in him upon his arrival in Buffalo all those years ago.

“Brooklyn made me,” he said. “But Buffalo made me strong. I guess the only thing left that I want to say is to love the experience and come out to the Friday Night Cypher.”

The next Cypher is tentatively scheduled for an upcoming Friday night in October. Follow PRXFET on Instagram HERE to keep up on Friday Night Cyphers and everything else PRXFET has going on.