More and more people are exploring alternatives to the traditional cafe experience. The latest comes from burgeoning Bay Area rapper LaRussell and is named “proud 2 pay café.” Located in Vallejo, the cafe will take over a local restaurant named Momo’s Cafe for three weeks only. During that time, people can stop by and pay what they have on hand for a cup of joe or food, and LaRussell will cover the difference out of his own pocket. 

According to NBC Bay Area, this is the second time LaRussell and Momo’s Cafe have partnered to support their community with a pay-what-you-want model. The cafe has been a neighborhood staple for over 10 years and was a favorite of LaRussell’s before his rap career took off. 

“The goal is for people to pay what they can, and [or] if you want to overpay to really support that’s a great thing, but you pay what you can. We know there’s people who can’t pay as well. We have a very high homeless population in Vallejo, and everyone’s not able to pay, but we still want to make sure you eat,” LaRussell told NBC Bay Area.

Manuel Melendrez, who goes by Manny, is the owner of Momo’s Cafe and has been an avid supporter of the community for decades. He met LaRussell as a regular customer, and didn’t learn that he was a rapper until later. The two have partnered on numerous community related efforts. Last year, LaRussell even paid to have Momo’s Cafe remodeled. Along with customers being able to pay-what-they-want, the rapper hosts live shows in front of Momo’s. 

LaRussell has gained recognition for his independent approach to music. He ingeniously transformed his own Vallejo-based backyard into a performance space where he regularly throws ticketed concerts for the local community. In addition to that, he’s a strong advocate for transparency in the music industry and for independent artists to monetize their careers without giving away their rights.