Jake the Rapper - Robot Heart - Burning Man 2025

Description

In the dark hours of Saturday morning into dawn, Jake held the bus and guided us through one of those moments you don’t forget. After the burn, he went in for knee surgery and has since faced serious complications, multiple operations, and a long road to recovery. We’re sharing his set in honor of that morning, and his GoFundMe for anyone who feels called to support. We love you Jake! Link to GoFundMe ❤️‍🩹🙏 https://www.gofundme.com/f/time-to-heal-space-to-create-support-jakes-next-chapter Poem from Jake: Remember that night that led to the dawn in the dust on the bus Though We love the man, in the heart of the robot we trust Moving in time as we feel it, regardless of class Aligned with the spirit of effortless dance Free of stress - in body, mind and Ass Lets relive the moments that passed “I had the honor of playing and camping with Robot Heart on my second Burn in eight years. I got to meet so many amazing, creative, productive dreamers and doers on the team. Then it was my turn to play. I got on the bus, climbed up to the decks and we drove out on the Playa, ready for whatever was in store for us, this Burn having shown everyone just what is possible in terms of unexpected surprises. I was surprisingly not my usual nervous wreck before playing. I was calm and like I said, ready for anything, good or bad. It seems like life is the most fun when you have no expectations. I started out smooth and slow as the bike lights of passersby started to collect underneath. After 15 minutes, I played a track for everyone on the bus with a vocal about work, “I don’t want to see any fake-ass workers, I mean real workers. Work it!” Because even though I was unable to put in a lot of physical work that year with my knee situation, the effort, ingenuity and love of the process I witnessed at the Robot Heart camp left a lasting impression on me, and I wanted to say “I see you!” musically. Then other people started coming on the bus. More and more people. It got full, it started to get crazy. People started climbing up the heart, around the decks, everywhere. Everyone was dancing and it felt amazing to be able to play the music to keep the vibe going, and bring in some surprises as well. The sky started getting lighter, and the fairy lights below became extravagant figures dancing in the dust, way more of them now than before. Looking out on the crowd, and then on to other crowds and other buses, the Temple, each thing a bit more faded and etherial in dust in the dawn, the expanse of it was breathtaking. It was so hauntingly beautiful, like being in another world entirely. A peaceful, timeless, and groovy AF world. And then just when I thought it couldn’t get any more packed, Lee Burridge came and took over and it all went so wild, I decided to get off the bus and dance from there. That’s when I got to be in front of that big row of speakers. What a sound! What a dance I had. What a day. The rest of the day is another story for another time :) Thank you Robot Heart family, for taking me in, for trusting me with this night, and for just being overall amazecubes.” - Jake @jake-basker Set cover photo by Joe Thomas @burningman