exposing the underground
Posted on 13. Aug, 2010 by Nick in music
words > JESSICA TOUPIN
In this hyper-speed, fast paced society, we’re overwhelmed with stimulus on the daily. Bombarded by spam email preaching the next revolution in penile growth, enslaved by our iPhones and Blackberries, inundated by the Billy Mays’ of our lives that tell us we need the latest blanket with sleeves; it’s hard to sift through what’s important . In Wichita, we are certainly not exempt to this modern-day overload phenomenon. Just log onto Facebook and check your events section; pick up your copy of NakedCity and see what’s happening. Until cloning becomes a reality, face it, you’ve got some tough choices to make when it comes to your time.
For Wichita hip hop fans, the internal conflict of where to devote our attention has been a welcome problem in recent times. For years ICT’s urban music scene has been much like an anthill: just a few artists on the surface, but an entire empire building underground. Well, Wichita, the anthill’s been kicked open and it’s time to let the ants have their picnic. An army of talented emcees, singers, musicians, producers, DJs, promoters, and organizations has taking the hip-hop movement in the Midwest by storm.
Those who’ve been along for the revolution will tell you that it’s an overwhelming, empowering experience. Wichita artist FourTre speaks on the recent climate change in the hip-hop scene:
“[It] means the world to me, because, finally, there’s a larger group of people doing the same things I love to do. It’s a great thing to say you’re from the Dub and be able to list off a number of quality artists here. It’s incredible; look at the number of venues hip-hop is playing at! We’re finally able to shake the stigma of violence and negativity that the local scene has been stuck with since the 90s. It’s a great time to be active in the Dub right now and heal those wounds that Wichita’s hip-hop scene has been scarred with.”
His sentiments are shared with scene members and fans alike. There was a time when local hip-hop events were a rarity, a time KaeWun and Twansac were the only hometown names on the radio, and a time when the scene was practically non-existent. Mind you, there are some die-hard veterans who’ve been making music, putting on events, and making contributions in this city for years. The remarkable differences between now and then lie in two things: exposure and unity.
The parallel between exposure and unity in Wichita’s hip-hop scene begs the age-old “chicken or egg” question. There isn’t an exact distinction as to which came first, but most would argue that the exposure sparked the unity. As hip-hop professionals and enthusiasts have become more visible to each other, this great realization of “Hey, I’m not the only one doing this!” has brought people out of the woodwork, creating the most unlikely collaborations and situations.
So what’s responsible for this sudden boom in visibility, exposure, and unity?
Since the beginning of this hip-hop renaissance, media segments like Cash Hollistah’s The Cypher Show—a television and Youtube show featuring Kansas emcees delivering mind-blowing free-verse/freestyle lines—and FourTre’s The Morning Blunt, Youtube segment (one-on-one artist interviews) have made Kansas hip-hop history and gained huge followings. The Kansas DJs have been hugely instrumental in giving local talent a voice: lobbying for artists, earning them nation-wide exposure through mix shows and mix-tapes, spinning them in the clubs, and providing connections, resources, and opportunities.
Thanks to increasing respect and demand from venues, club performances and concert series have arguably made some of the biggest impact locally. Former clubs like Groove and Everest, and Club Bedz are just a few that have housed some memorable local artist events. These events have been central gatherings for all kinds of
creative minds and fans, and have earned an eclectic following.
With an incredible amount of accomplishment and support in the scene, it’s impossible to touch on everything that’s come to fruition within the last year or so alone, but it’s safe to say that what we’re dealing with here is a unique and special moment in Wichita’s history. Emcees, singers, producers, and musicians have stepped out of the shadows, fueled with what could be argued as an unprecedented sense of hope and hunger. Support for the movement is growing, and the dedication is deep. One thing is certainly clear: Wichita hip-hop is one of those things you’re about to be inundated with, and it’s one stimulus you need to experience.
