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Indy on the mic: The local hip-hop scene
Posted: Oct 03, 2007 in Music
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It's Feb. 27, and Ike Daniel is standing in the back of Birdy's nightclub as Russell Johnson of the Mudkids introduces rapper Bottom Line to the stage. Behind Johnson, DJ Topspeed works the turntables. The crowd -- a pretty good one for a Tuesday night -- undulates.
Daniel crosses his arms and gazes out at the audience. "So what do you think?" he asks with a smile. "I live for this."
Daniel and his business partner, Aaron Warren, head up 3 Duff Entertainment Group, which puts on Underground and Independent, a showcase for underexposed local hip-hop acts. To that end, they enlisted the help of Indy hip-hop icons Russ "Rusty Redenbacher" Johnson and DJ Topspeed.
"When you think of hip-hop in Indianapolis, you think of Rusty, DJ Topspeed and Crush Entertainment," Daniel said.
The problem, though, is that Indianapolis music fans have been slow to embrace many newer artists. "Unfortunately, it isn't easy for the community to extend that trust to others," he said. "They've become comfortable with what they're used to."
Daniel, 33, is intent on changing that. He and Warren, 38, have successfully worked with popular local acts The Cleptoz and the Twilight Sentinels over the past year, and are now managing up-and-comers Mikado, The Parker Brothaz and Son of Thought.
"It's been tough for me to get going," Daniel said. "I am just a freckle on this hip-hop scene. I'm just trying to play my part and give people a chance."
Parker Brothaz and Mikado headlined the Underground and Independent showcase, while Son of Thought also put on a scorching set. Each one brought a unique vibe to the stage: Son of Thought -- tall, lean and cosmopolitan -- commanded the stage with a Mos Def-like presence. The larger-than-life Parker Brothaz traded rhymes with the kind of jaw-dropping dexterity that suggested they may have been rapping before they were talking. And Mikado prowled the stage with the self-assurance and swagger of someone who believes he's on the brink of bigger and better things.
The other artists were equally captivating: Guillotine is an exuberant trio that traffics in catchy, chant-along choruses. Bottom Line uses his smooth, airtight flow to deliver honest, self-deprecating rhymes -- think Eminem without the Jerry Springer baggage.
3 Duff Entertainment Group isn't alone in providing a venue for hungry MCs and DJs. Just three days later, another group of local rappers performed at a showcase called Beauty and the Beats at Club Liquid. And then, just four days after that, nine artists came together for a tribute to the late Trell Wheat at Birdy's. The trend continues next month, when a local entertainment team called DFE (Destine Fame Entertainment) will bring major label talent scouts to town for a two-month, weekly local rap show at various, to-be-determined locations. (Check www.myspace.com/destinefameentertainment for details.)
The Grind Family, Mic Sol, Hard Times, The Basement Kings, Nappyville, Trillogy. These are all names of yet more rap acts around town. The point is, rap is alive and kicking in Naptown. Believe the hype.
RAP SESSION
3 Duff Entertainment Group principals Ike Daniel, Aaron Warren and rappers Mikado and 45 Wayz (one-half of the Parker Brothaz) sat down with INtake for a talk about the state of hip-hop in Indy. This is the abridged version of that discussion.
So how is 2007 looking for the 3 Duff roster?
Daniel: Mikado's project is blowing up. People don't hear about how he's the No. 1 Indiana rap artist on MySpace, and the No. 3 hip-hop artist (on MySpace).
Is MySpace exposure as important as local radio play?
45: You might not get paid for local airplay, but when you are talking to labels or other stations, it's documented proof that you are making noise. It's a resume builder. Industry people outside of Indianapolis, all they are looking at are those numbers. They assume that because you're getting this amount of spins, you must be the hottest guy up in that city.
Warren: It's almost like a credit score. If you have a whole bunch of spins then you have what the industry considers great credit. The way they look at it: if it's being played a lot, then maybe they've stumbled onto something.
Which stations are playing local rap music?
45: To their credit, (Hot) 96.3 in the past year has played more local songs than I have heard in the history of Indianapolis. But the gatekeepers need to open up some more. They are tight about what they put on there. I don't think the radio station has a vested interest in supporting music from here.
Mikado: I got on (Radio Now) 93.1, but that's because I have good management.
Warren: He gets played more in Europe than in his own city.
How did that happen?
Mikado: Basically, a couple of DJs there stumbled across my stuff on MySpace and kept asking for my songs so they could put them on mixtapes. Now I'm in Costa Rica, Holland, France. I'm on eight mixtapes in Europe.
Warren: And as far as the States go, he gets more MySpace plays in Kansas City and New York than here. He gets more plays in Iowa than he does here.
Why?
Warren: Because if people here don't hear it on the radio, then it's not official.
Daniel: That's the whole goal that I'm pushing, to get people more familiar with the Parker Brothaz and Mikado. Because at the end of the day, there is a lot of stuff going on the radio now that I personally don't feel that they have paid enough dues to have that shot.
45: And you gotta realize that in Iowa, they've probably got some good artists that they're not paying attention to.
Do you guys think there is an Indianapolis sound?
Mikado: I think so. The Naptown sound is like a blend between East and West. We really care about our beats, because we realize that's what hip-hop has turned into. If you have a good producer, you can pretty much laugh and fart over the beat and do good. We love our beats, but we are also very lyrical. I might rhyme with one syllable for 16 bars. We'll take a South beat and get East Coast on it. That's the Naptown sound.
Warren: There is (a Naptown sound), but right now nobody is hearing it. Not even in Indianapolis.
That's why local radio is so important. And what's going to happen, since all the stations are corporate, is that one more group of questionable ability will come out of here after getting major spins on our radio station and no one will trust the legitimacy of our local artists. That's why I don't understand why they wouldn't want to only play the best of the best.
45: It's like this -- you bring me a sandwich that is supposed to be Indianapolis' best sandwich. I take a bite, and I'm like, "This is alright but it's kind of dry."
After four or five more of those sandwiches, I'll be like, "Alright look man, I don't want any more Indianapolis sandwiches. I already know about Indianapolis sandwiches."
What needs to change to fix that?
Warren: We need more collaboration. If we are all digging the same ditch, why are you digging over there and me here? Why don't we dig together?
Daniel: In New York, you can't go in and say a d-mn thing wrong about (New York MC) Jay-Z. They will take a bullet for him. He is an icon. Now if we could get that kind of loyalty in Indianapolis, that would be a start. Russell Johnson has that to some extent, but that's about it.
Warren: We just want everybody to think of 3 Duff Entertainment as positive. We want (people to know) anybody can approach us about working together. Because that's what it's going to take.
-------LOCAL ACTS-------
DaFilled
DaFilled is a Christian rap group, but like they say in hip-hop, don't get it twisted: They make exuberant, life-affirming music without coming off overbearing or preachy. DaFilled's music is seriously fun, funny and eminently listenable stuff.
According to DaFilled member Alpil, that's because their goal is to move bodies as well as souls.
"We don't beat people over the head," he said. "We just want people to see that there's another way."
DaFilled MCs Alpil, 28, Braille, 31, and Ill, 25, come from divergent backgrounds. But they share the same mission now: To spread God's word while making innovative, infectious hip-hop. And they're doing it while working with local artists of all inclinations and genres, Christian or not.
"We work with people all across the board," Alpil said. "The scene is all about unity. There have been shows in the past few years that have brought together different artists. There was one called 'Stop Beefin' ' where artists did collaborate on a CD against gun violence."
According to Alpil, whether those on the outside realize it or not, the city is rich with rap talent.
"The music industry hasn't really tapped into the talent here," he said. "The way they view Indianapolis might be a little narrow-minded. There is a lot of talent here, and the scene is growing as the years go by. People will see."
Find them online: www.dafilled.com and www.myspace.com/dafilledtrip.>
Sample lyric: "I never was the richest nor the wisest nor the dopest / always was the ugly one / the dumbest and the brokest." -- "4 Dollaz" Ray E. Rapper Ray E., 27, of local rap and reggaeton collective DFE believes Indy hip-hop is in the midst of an identity crisis. "The way Indianapolis is now, from talking to DJ Wrekk One (at Hot 96.3), a lot of people are following ATL (Atlanta's hip-hop scene)." The result? A surplus of club music that's fine for dancing, but lacks originality. "That's not what we want," he said. "But when you hear it on the radio every day you think, 'OK, maybe I should do something like this.' " Ray said that Indianapolis doesn't lack original talent, but original talent goes unnoticed since local clubs and radio stations strongly favor Atlanta-influenced club music. So he's providing a venue for local artists to get exposure by hosting a hip-hop Inner City Tour at various venues around the city. Shows for the tour will happen on Thursday nights throughout April and May, and guests will include stars Twista, Remy Ma and Cuban Link. But the more important visitors will be the label representatives. According to Ray, A&R reps from Geffen, Universal, Interscope and other majors will be on hand to scout talent. He expects them to leave with some solid prospects. "If they leave with nothing, that's fine," he said. "But I guarantee you they are going to find something." Find him online: www.myspace.com/only1raye.>
Sample lyric: "I'm R&B, a little hip-hop / but in this case I'm gonna take this gangsta sh-t / and flip it a little bit / give it my taste." -- "Hustlin Remix" Radamez New York-raised local rapper Radamez, 29, brings to mind another tall and charismatic Big Apple-bred MC. "People compare me to Jay-Z a lot," he said. "It's the swagger, the height, the look." Radamez' New York roots aren't hard to hear in his music. He's a throwback rapper who likes to twist and toy with words. He's a storyteller, but he knows that these days, storytelling isn't as highly valued by listeners as it once was. "It's really not about lyrics anymore," he said. "It's more about that one hot song." But you won't hear Radamez rapping the next "Laffy Taffy." "I listen to rock, jazz, blues -- I get influenced by a lot of different stuff," he said. "I've got a song called 'Hoodstock.' It's got a crazy rock beat and I talk about how hip-hop is transforming and evolving." Radamez is also a member of the local Concrete Beats collective, which includes producer Seany D and rappers AS1, Street Ranga and D-Win, among others. His new 18-track full-length "Innovative," comes out March 16, and will be available online at www.burnlounge.com/concretebeats and at various local record stores. Find him online: www.myspace.com/radamezcc.>
Sample lyric: "Why I gotta wonder if my life is going under? / I need pills or an anti-depressant / See, this is not a game show / but I'm a contestant." -- "Hallelujah Cold Hearted By day, LaTausha Taylor, 29, is an executive administrative assistant at Mays Chemical Company. But when she takes the stage as Cold Hearted, she rhymes with the air of supreme self-confidence you would never expect from someone who just started rapping two years ago. Cold Hearted kicked off 2007 by starting her own label, On Point Entertainment, with her husband. She recently got sponsorship from Marquee Cognac, and her music has been recently getting airplay on local radio stations. "I came at it like a professional," she said. "A lot of local artists have that local mentality. It's like, 'I went into the studio, recorded a song, here's my CD, let me write my name on it and here you go.' They are cutting their own throats by not putting enough time into the presentation." Citing Ludacris, Bun B and UGK as influences, Cold Hearted keeps her style simple: all self-assurance and swagger. "I am the female player," she said. "I lean toward street. On the other hand, I can pretty much rap about any concept or idea. I'm not limited to the streets." Unfortunately, though, Indianapolis hip-hop's popularity has too often been limited to the local streets. In 2007, Cold Hearted and On Point Entertainment are looking to change that by "bringing the industry to us," she said. "If you have enough talent and a big enough budget to promote yourself to where you become a household name in your own area, then you can go to places like Atlanta, and back home they can see what you are doing," she said. "We want to make this year the year we stand out. Because right now there aren't too many national acts from the Midwest, but the talent is here in Indianapolis." Find her online: www.myspace.com/coldheartedonline.>
Sample lyric: "Highly educated, sassy and sophisticated / not easy to figure out / so some say I'm complicated." -- "On Point" Brittany Street Most rappers view the road to hip-hop stardom as a series of concentric circles: First you succeed locally, then regionally, then nationally. Brittany Street hopes to make the trip to the top in one large leap. She's only 21 years old, but Street already has Atlanta-based management. This spring she'll be part of a nationwide college tour that will hit several renowned black colleges, including Hampton and Howard universities, as well as some bigger schools like Michigan State and USC. Her debut album, "Black Tuesday" is scheduled to drop in July 2007. Although she is aiming beyond Indianapolis, Street makes it clear she has nothing but respect for the local scene. "There are so many other people (in Indianapolis) who have been doing this for decades," she said. "I can't even compete with that right now." Instead, she plans to take her Lauryn Hill-inspired act on the road, gaining exposure and honing her skills on a full-time basis. Street, who recently dropped out of college to pursue her career full-time, credits her success so far to her willingness to sacrifice the present for the future. "This is a big sacrifice for me," she said. "If it doesn't work out, I have to go back to school. But if you want something bad, you should do anything to get it. If you see it as having option A and option B, A will never work out." Find her online: www.myspace.com/itsbrittanystreet.>
Sample lyric: "Is it my swag? Oh no! / I think they just love that flow / To the way I get down to the way I go / I've got them pumped up begging for mo'." -- "Swag" Phil Durl You won't hear tales of towering money stacks, walnut-sized jewelry or sparkling rims in the music of rapper Phil Durl. "I don't own one ounce of jewelry," he said. "I'm trying to talk about real life in my music." And that Durl does: One song from his 2006 album "Durl McVaye" is about a girlfriend who keeps nagging him for stuff. It's called "Wanting Mo' Stuff." Another one is an account of Durl cussing out a woman who is holding up a cash register line. Its title? "Cussing Hoes Out." Durl, 33, uses a twangy delivery and a sly sense of humor to describe everyday Midwestern life. Durl said the album's follow-up, which he's currently working on with local hip-hop producers Familia Ties, should be out sometime next month. Like "Durl McVaye," he plans to sell it online at CD Baby (www.cdbaby.com). But, Durl said, don't expect to hear it on the radio. "We have a problem with DJs at local radio stations here pushing their own artists," he said. To work around that with his last album, Durl took an unusual tack: He bought commercial airtime on local radio stations and used it to play his songs. "I was basically trying to get on the radio however I could," he said. "And it worked out pretty good actually. I sold a few copies more than I thought I would that way." If you're looking for ego-driven rappers boasting about their style, look elsewhere. But if you're interested in true-life storytelling over mellow, funk-inflected beats, get to know Phil Durl.
