Minnesota is a place of many faces: frigid winters, a warm summer sun, and an impeccable hip-hop scene. In uptown Minneapolis, on the street of Hennepin Avenue lies the Minnesotan hip-hop fan’s one place to indulge in their lifestyle. Behind the walls of Fifth Element, operated by Rhymesayers, is something that many Midwestern hip-hop heads don’t get to experience. An array of vinyl and CD’s, DJ equipment, and a grass-roots feel that isn’t embraced at the usual chain store. With the mood swings of the Minnesota weather comes layer upon layer of soul and integrity that is implemented into the sounds of the city’s hip-hop. Whether that may be the abrasive style of Brother Ali, the abstract flow of Eyedea or the honest lyricism of Slug from Atmosphere - it all resonates from these two cities.
However, the Midwest is a condensed region. The Twin Cities is still living in the soulful shadow of the much celebrated Chicago hip-hop scene and the dark avenues of the Detroit area. With this being said, they still have come a long way. Atmosphere, possibly the regions most well known act, has made a significant name for itself in the underground and mainstream outlet. Their album, When Life Gives You Lemons You Paint That Shit Gold, made it to the top of the Billboard charts - surpassing its more commercial peers. At least its showing that people look at this town for artistic integrity rather than flavor-of-the-week styles often offered by more well known areas. The album goes in many directions that all end up at one central idea. Narratives and metaphors lace everyday situations in Slug’s writing, as well as Ant’s stylistic production utilizing different instrumentation and sound. It isn’t your usual “boom-bap”, you can expect a piano-driven intro with cascading flutes on “The Waitress” and a discreet piano and string-induced reveries on the opening track, “Like The Rest of Us”. However, this isn’t the beginning of the career. Starting in the mid-nineties, the duo has been putting out material consistently with a growing fan base. “God Loves Ugly”, “You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having” and their widely-considered magnum opus “Lucy Ford” have established a strong underground status that hasn’t been reached in quite some time.
However, Atmosphere isn’t the only musical talent generating out of the area. Brother Ali, a Muslim emcee, laced his two albums “Shadows on the Sun” and “The Undisputed Truth” with socio-political commentary and cryptic religious overtones. Ali may come off as a pretentious elitist, but his sophomore album has many tracks that gray that identity and show an honest, personable side that isn’t matched by many in his league, as well as boasting self confidence that doesn’t rely on record sales, but bare-knuckle MC skills.
As for Fifth Element, success is rich within the stores veins. Originally established to create more space for the Rhymesayers label, it ultimately grew into something far beyond its initial conception. "The label needed to expand more than we did, but the store has been doing well, even when it seemed like the retail business was down", says Jordan Daley, brother of Slug and the operator of the hip-hop shop. Its high level of prestige among hip-hop circles far beyond the Minnesota border show the small region is expanding its influence. They have even signed the underground hip-hop legend MF Doom, who hails from New York City.
Minnesota's widespread influence in hip-hop is impressive, but it all boils down to the fanatic energy that generates around the area. Ben Williams, a fan of Atmosphere, said this about what Minnesota hip-hop does that other regions don't: "It contributes music that is different because its from an area that isn't usually included in rap/hip-hop", he begins. "[It] expresses hardships from that area that are new instead of ones from overused places in the country", he adds. Obviously alluding to the evident mainstream and materialistic themes that are used in some regions of hip-hop, he respects the fact that the land of 10,000 lakes often goes another route. Paul Thompson, one half of local hip-hop group Probable Cause, said that Slug is an "honest" and "thought-provoking" lyricist provoking themes that "most people can relate to, whether that is a good or bad thing is subjective".
Atmosphere also played a role in the often rock-laden Warped Tour in the early 2000's. Their crossover appeal is one of the more in-depth factors to their success. Williams, often listening to alternative rock, simply said this about why he differs his taste from riffs to rhymes with Atmosphere: "It tells stories".
The underground is often thought of a place of pretentious, condescending backpackers. However, when "Puppets" by Atmosphere is playing on their respective iPods, they are listening to the lyricism of an honest man just trying to find his way through the "land of snow and purple rain". Minnesota hip-hop is a place of bipolar seasonal changes and emotionally rich artists painting pictures of the everyday person. Windows tightly sealed with the icy shield in January to the heat turning leather seats into burning chairs in July, it all boils down in the music that generates out of the area. Whether or not the Twin Cities can be fully recognized in the fickle hip-hop industry, Slug once said "There's no way to measure it, but not every pony grows up to be a pegasus". We have become that pegasus, but the mountains are far too high for us to reach at this point in time.
