Story

He made music to get away from the streets. Now he makes it to praise.

“The music ain’t perfect but neither am I.”

Al Bear

Albert Aguilar grew up in Farmersville, in California’s Central Valley. There was violence around him. Skateboarding, graffiti and hip-hop were his escape. He came up on Bone Thugs, Three 6 Mafia and DJ Quik.

Skatepark wall with Fear God graffiti, a skater rolling past

The name came from a teacher who made a big impact on him. The teacher called him Al Bear. Years later, when his old rap name stopped fitting, that one did.

“There’s a lot of acceptance here. Back home, there is more violence. I do music to escape the streets. In SoCal, you’re constantly looking over your shoulder, here you don’t have to.”

Quoted in El Leñador, “Humboldt Hip Hop mic check” (2024)

He moved north to Arcata, and the hip-hop community there took him in. Now Humboldt County is his home.

Al Bear in front of a wall of skate decks, two of them reading Humboldt Al Bear on stage, hand raised over the crowd

Then a collaborator and a song changed his life. He calls what came next a wild journey of finding truth. He built a foundation in his faith before bringing it into his music. He thought about leaving music behind. He stayed.

Now he calls the music his praise. He would rather show love than preach at anybody.

Al Bear with his hands together under the pink cross Al Bear pointing to the sky, from an Instagram post

“I only chase God these days.”

Al Bear

Bear His Pain is the newest chapter.

Al Bear with a hand on his chest, from an Instagram post announcing the September 18 release Al Bear outside Cool Beanz coffee, from an Instagram post

Sources: @albear93 on Instagram; El Leñador, “Humboldt Hip Hop mic check” (2024); Interview Lab (June 2026); HipHopHumboldt, Episode 25.

Bear His Pain Book Text Family