Midwest Sampler #1: Minneapolis-St. Paul Hip Hop
September 29, 2016
Courtesy of Rackcdn
In coming to AU this fall, I’ve found out that everyone here is from suburban Philly and/or New Jersey. The effect of this is that everyone thinks that the midwest is one giant cornfield, and that there is a shared consensus that most of the midwest is (probably) fake. I’ve had to remind many folks that my home of Chicago is, in fact, the third largest city in the country (yes, bigger than Philly or your tiny little town in Jersey), and has a burgeoning arts & music scene. You may think I’m being a little too critical, but I literally met someone that didn’t believe Illinois was in the midwest. I am not joking. Now, because as I find myself to be a True Midwesterner (my mom, after immigrating from India, grew up in Lawrence, Kansas and my dad La Crosse, Wisconsin, his mother on a farm near Guttenberg, Iowa), I cannot allow the AU community to exist without knowing about much of the fantastic music coming out of the midwest.
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, or the “Twin Cities” are really just like any other city. Interestingly more diverse and integrated than any city I’ve been to, as best as I can tell. It does get very cold in the winters — when rapper Lil Yachty went he described it as “that shit freezingÛ. (Lil Yachty’s hit “Minnesota” is embedded above. He is from Atlanta, not Minnesota). But that brings me to my next point.
The Twin Cities’ hip-hop scene is a hidden gem for those who don’t live in the midwest. The Rhymesayers label is the stronghold of hip-hop in Minnesota, and works with Minneapolis/St. Paul artists such as Atmosphere, Brother Ali, Dem Atlas, and Prof, to name a few. Atmosphere, first off, is an artist that you should know. In the midwest it often isn’t disputed that you like them; Instead of asking if someone likes Atmosphere, you ask their favorite album. Also on Rhymesayers, Brother Ali is a artist of deep complexity, whose songs about his personal life (divorce, custody battle, being a devout Muslim) and politics/society alike. Coincidentally, Atmosphere is on tour right now with Brother Ali and Dem Atlas, and they are playing the 9:30 Club on Nov. 14th.
Image Source: lifeandtimes
An up-and-comer in the scene is Tall Paul, recently featured in Vice in a documentary about Native American hip-hop artists. His most recent album is No Good Good Guy, released December of this past year. Listen to No Good Good Guy here. I really hope to see Tall Paul tearing up the whole country in a short while.
Image source: breaksxlakes
Another artist not to be missed from Minneapolis, and one of my favorites is Toki Wright. About two years ago, they released an experimental collab album with Big Cats, featuring many other artists, called Pangaea (sic). Jazzy and melodic beats juxtaposed with classic hip hop lyricism, unsuspecting breaks and jumps. I cannot truly explain this album with my words. You should just listen to it.
In conclusion: Minnesota is cold but has some great hip hop artists & energy that is constantly growing and cultivating itself..
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