# Twin Cities hip-hop

Twin Cities hip hop, also referred to as Minneapolis hip hop, is sub-genre of rap music that originates from the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Minnesota.

## History

Hip hop culture in the Twin Cities can be traced as far back as 1981.$^{:xvi,xxxv}$ Similar to the development of hip hop in the South Bronx, Twin Cities rap started as parties with a DJ and an emcee. A DJ named Travitron is considered the "godfather" of hip hop in the Twin Cities,$^{:xi}$ and began hosting Hip Hop Shop on 89.9 KMOJ, the first radio station to play Hip Hop in the Twin Cities.$^{:xxxvi}$
The first Twin Cities hip hop vinyl record released was from the rap group I.R.M. Crew, led by Kelly "Kel-C" Crockett from North Minneapolis. Members were Devastating Dee, TLC, Kel-C, IBM and Cuttin' Kal. "I Dream of DJ’s" was released in 1986, followed by "Baseball" in 1987. Wide Angle, which doubled as a record store and indie recording label, is considered the first Twin Cities independent hip-hop label, with releases on vinyl from Shampayle, the twin cities first female rapper released on vinyl.
David "T.C." Ellis was featured on a Prince song "Graffiti Bridge" in 1990. Further, Ellis's album "True Confessions" was the first rap album released on the Paisley Park label in 1991.
Graffiti and B-boy crews existed in the city. However, the first verifiable rap record to be released in Minnesota was "The Twin City Rapp," a vinyl single on TwinTown Records released in 1985. It was produced and performed by David "T.C." Ellis and C.T., and released by the Twin City Rappers.
The rise of Twin Cities Hip-Hop in the early 2000s marked a significant period of creative flourishing and collaboration, anchored by influential collectives such as Rhymesayers, Doomtree, and Interlock. Atmosphere, a prominent group within Rhymesayers, gained substantial recognition, even claiming spots on MTV, which provided a platform for other local artists to reach wider audiences.
DUNation.com played a crucial role in cultivating this scene, serving as a virtual hub for artists, fans, and industry figures alike. Its message board became a space for dynamic discussions, fostering connections amidst the community while the site offered a wealth of resources, from artist interviews to concert calendars and exclusive music drops, which emphasized the thriving local talent. The organization's expansion into live events, particularly exclusive rooftop parties, pivoted to regular club nights and show promotions, solidifying its role in the local scene. The release of a compilation album featuring artists like Brother Ali, Musab, Sims, Kanser, Raw Villa and Unknown Prophets showcased the diverse talent within the Twin Cities and helped further promote the culture. The only project to feature the diversity of the Twin Cities scene on one record.
However, the eventual sale of DUNation to Vital Vinyl in 2007 marked a turning point. Despite its initial success, the site struggled to maintain engagement after the sale as the new owners ignored what made DUNation successful and reflected the shifting dynamics in internet culture and the local music scene. As the audience dwindled, Vital Vinyl closed DUNation closed a few years later, signifying the end of an era in which local hip-hop had thrived on collaboration and community.

## Festivals

The now defunct annual Twin Cities Celebration of Hip-Hop, also known as The Hip Hop Fest, was cofounded by Larry Lucio, Jr. and Toki Wright of Amplified Life in 2002. It was hosted by Claire Redmond, FranzDiego DaHinten, Dimitris Kelly, and Alicia Steele of YO! The Movement. The event featured performances from National headlining artists and local acts.
Rhymesayers Entertainment started sponsoring the Soundset Music Festival, the first being held at the Metrodome parking lot in 2008. Soundset quickly became a popular festival and moved to Canterbury Park grounds in Shakopee, Minnesota, before moving to the Minnesota State Fair grounds.

## Venues

The well known Minneapolis venue First Avenue has been a typical location for major performances of Twin Cities hip hop. Other common places for shows around the cities include Honey Lounge (closed), Nomad World Pub (closed), Triple Rock (closed), Blue Nile (closed), Myth and the Fine Line. The Dinkytowner was a common place for smaller shows until its closing in 2009.
Fifth Element was home to Last of the Record Buyer's showcase, which provided a platform for producers.
Graffiti can be found throughout the twin cities, sanctioned and not. One popular place for writers to write legally was known as the Bomb Shelter.
Hope Community is home to Graffiti and hip hop production classes; many active artists in the community have passed through its doors.
Intermedia Arts was a nonprofit in Uptown Minneapolis which closed in 2018. Intermedia Arts allowed public art and offered workshops/programs/ grant opportunities for artists in the cities. It was at Intermedia Arts that Desdamona co-founded the first festival dedicated to women in hip-hop, B-Girl Be.

## Notable artists

* Atmosphere
* Audio Perm
* Brother Ali
* Cecil Otter
* Desdamona
* Dessa
* DJ Abilities
* Doomtree
* Eyedea
* Face Candy
* Heiruspecs
* I Self Devine
* Kill the Vultures
* Lazerbeak
* Lexii Alijai
* Lizzo
* Manny Phesto
* Mike Mictlan
* Los Nativos
* Musab
* Muja Messiah
* Oddjobs
* Orikal Uno
* Paper Tiger
* P.O.S
* Prof
* Sims

## Radio

* KCMP 89.3 (The Current) - Home of Rhymesayer's H2 Radio as well as The Local Show which plays some popular local hip hop
* KFAI 90.3/106.7 FM - Hosts Soul Tools Radio every Saturday hosted by local Hip Hop artists Toki Wright.
* KMOJ 89.9 FM - Home of popular show "Rush it or Flush it" where artists submit music to be voted on by the audience
* KUOM 770 AM (Radio K) - University of Minnesota College Radio. They feature a "Track of the Day" from local artists.
* WMCN 91.7 FM - Macalester College Radio - weekly hip hop radio shows featuring live performances and interviews with many local artists.