Twin Cities hip hop

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Twin Cities hip hop is hip-hop or rap music that originates from the Twin Cities metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Minnesota.

History

Pre 1996

Although strictly underground, there existed a sub-terraean hip hop culture in the Twin Cities starting as early as 1981. Similar to the development of hip hop in the South Bronx, Twin Cities rap started as humble parties with a DJ and an emcee.[1]. A DJ named Travitron was comparable to the DJ Kool Herc of the Twin Cities area. Shows took place at many venues, most notoriously Club Hip Hop on Selby Avenue in St. Paul. Other artists and DJs include Disco T, Verb X, Brother Jules, Delite, and Truth Maze. The first real album to come out of the Twin Cities was called The I.R.M. Crew, released in 1985. Graffiti and b-boy crews were also existent in the city. This is the world that the current movers of Twin Cities Hip Hop were brought up in. However the first verifiable rap record to be released in Minnesota was Twin City Rapp, a 12" on Twin Town Records. This record was produced by David TC Ellis who is also the founder of STUDIO 4/HSRA high school for recording arts, hsra.org aka (hip hop high) soon to be a Viacom docuseries about education and hip hop.

[edit] 1996-present

The main movers of Twin Cities hip hop came together to form the group Headshots, a precursor to the Rhymesayers Entertainment label. Members of this group included Slug, I Self Devine, Micranots, Musab, Siddiq, and Ant. Slug was one of the main artists to move into the foreground, setting the tone for the style of music to follow in the years to come.

Style

Twin Cities hip hop is characterized best by the alternative rap, underground rap, and conscious hip hop sub-genres. The content of music speaks about, political, economic, and social issues. The beats use influences from jazz, soul and classic rock. Many rap songs from the Twin Cities speak on social and political issues, and also involve personal stories.

Twin Cities Celebration of Hip Hop Festival

The Twin Cities Celebration of Hip-Hop is an annual event hosted by YO! The Movement, bringing together people from all walks of life to celebrate the power of community through hip-hop culture. Over the past five years nearly 20,000 people from around the world have taken part in the festival and conference. Past participants include Slick Rick, MC Lyte, Cee-Lo of Gnarls Barkley, Clipse, Camp Lo, Crazy Legs, Slug of Atmosphere, Jean Grae, Asia-One, EWOK (HM Crew), Brother Ali, and many others.

Headline performers:

• 2004: Slum Village
• 2005: Slick Rick
• 2006: MC Lyte

Annual Twin Cities Hip Hop Awards

The first Annual Twin Cities Hip Hop Awards were held on January 20, 2007 at the University of Minnesota Campus in St. Paul, MN. Over 1000 local hip hop and urban music artists, and even more fans attended the event. The event was hosted by High Society, ran by local rapper Depth. Lots of artists were nominated and won awards.

The night includes performances by Mista Maeham, Just.Live, FIC, Maria Isa, Toki Wright, True High Class, Rico Nevotion, Holler Early Fam, St. Paul Kings, DEPth, Ghetto Poets, Lyrasis, Sandman, Blaze 1 Camp, Tony Bones & Big Wiz, Young Maniak , Plus Envy & Leviticus

Notable artists

• Atmosphere
• Brother Ali
• P.O.S.
• Heiruspecs
• I Self Devine
• Oddjobs
• Eyedea & Abilities
• Unknown Prophets
• Sims
• Cecil Otter
• Los Nativos
• Kanser
• Big Quarters
• Micranots
• Musab (f.k.a. Beyond)
• BK-One
• TC Ellis
• Toki Wright
• Playaz Lounge Crew
• Ruthless
• Young Son

In addition to these artists, these labels have signed other artists from around the country, most notably those from the Midwest and Northwest United States.

The major record labels in the area are Rhymesayers, Interlock Records, Doomtree, and Loonatix Productions.

Locations

The headquarters for Rhymesayers Entertainment is located in Uptown, Minneapolis, Fifth Element, the store owned and operated by the label.

The well known Minneapolis venue First Avenue has been a typical location for major performances of Twin Cities hip hop, including the annual Twin Cities Hip Hop Festival. Other common places for shows around the cities include Dinkytown (in venues such as the Varsity Theater and The Dinkytowner), The Red Sea and the Cedar/Riverside area, and downtown St. Paul.

Radio

• KMOJ 89.9 FM
• KFAI 90.3/106.7 FM - Produces the weekly show RSE Radio, short for Rhymesayers Entertainment Radio.
• KCMP 89.3 (The Current) - Plays Twin Cities hip hop in regular rotation, as well as the weekly show Redefinition Radio
• KUOM 770AM (Radio K) - University of Minnesota College Radio. Home of the Beatbox show.