Audio Perm Block Party - Saturday August 27

The flyer above is all that's actually necessary for this post, but allow me a brief moment to help announce the Audio Perm Block Party. The event will take place on Saturday, August 27 at Shuga Records in Northeast Minneapolis. The lineup is basically a can't miss assortment of rising and established local artists, including Toki Wright, I Self Devine, Audio Perm themselves, Kanser, The Tribe & Big Cats!, and more. The California trio Pac Div are headlining. It costs $10 to buy an advanced ticket, and $15 if you show up the day of the show. All signs point to this being a terrific day; you'd be wise not to miss it.

You can RSVP to the event on Facebook, and follow its associated Twitter account here. The MN Daily also posted an article about the event this morning.

Event Announcement: Boom Bap Village 2011

I'd like to announce Boom Bap Village 2011, a Hmong hip-hop event here in Saint Paul. It will be taking place on July 1 and 2. There will be a b-boy competition and the debut screening of two films, "Among BBoys" and "Travel in Spirals." Below is the press release describing those documentaries. If you have some free time this weekend and can attend this event, you should check it out.

Screening of “Among B-Boys” and “Travel in Sprials”
Saturday, July 2nd · 6 p.m. · FREE ADMISSION

Buetow Music Auditorium
Concordia University
275 Syndicate St. N.
St. Paul, MN 55104

Concordia University will be providing screenings of the following documentaries: “Among B-Boys” and “Travel in Spirals.”

Among B-boys” was initially created as a short film. Director, Christopher Woon, has since turned this into an hour long feature documentary focusing on two main story lines, that of B-Boy Sukie and the Velocity/Soul Rivals and twin brothers, Bboys Mpact and Villn of Underground Flow. The documentary takes us geographically from Merced, Fresno and Sacramento in the California Central Valley, to Long Beach, California to as far as Tulsa, Oklahoma. It’s a multigenerational view of the impact B-Boying has had on the Hmong American community, the contributions made by these B-Boys, and the identities they are seeking to forge. For additional information, please visit the following webpage at: http://www.amongbboys.com/.

“Travel in Spirals” tells the story of Hmong hip-hop MC, spoken word poet, and
community organizer Tou SaiKo Lee and his journey back to his birthplace of Thailand. Born on the Nongkhai refugee camp, his parents fled Laos after the Vietnam War and came to America when Tou was two months old. Taking its title from the spirals in Hmong paj ntaub, Travel in Spirals documents Tou’s journey to the source of himself and his heritage almost 30 years after he left. For additional information, please visit the following weblink: http://www.travelinspirals.blogspot.com.

Concert Announcement: Heiruspecs to 'Rap the Aster' Tonight

11th hour awesome concert announcement: Heiruspecs are performing TONIGHT at 10pm at the Aster Cafe in Minneapolis. It will be a special show, the band is debuting two new songs from their upcoming album (working title: We are the Future and We Know It). They are also performing some throwback gems, as well as reworked versions of the usual classics we have known to expect and love at Heiruspecs shows. If you can make it to this show, you should go.

Hoolie Fest 2011 at Shuga Records in NE Minneapolis

Shuga Records is putting on Hoolie Fest 2011 this weekend at their location in Northeast Minneapolis. The weekend-long festival features over 75 local bands and artists spread across two different stages. Basically, if you want to see some local music this weekend, Hoolie Fest is the place to be. It's one $1 per day to attend, and some of the festival's proceeds benefit the St. Stephens Homeless Shelter.

Saturday is the big day for hip-hop at Hoolie Fest. Starting at 6:00pm tomorrow, you can catch the likes of Chantz Erolin with Audio Perm, Unknown Prophets, Muja Messiah and Maria Isa. I'd say that's worth a buck or two. Hopefully the end of the world holds off until after the day's performances are over.

Kristoff Krane: Never-Ending Gunshow Tour Dates

Kristoff Krane recently arrived back from some shows in Europe and is soon embarking on an expansive, 60-day tour through the states. He's even got a couple shows in the Twin Cities — one in Minneapolis and one in St. Paul, how diplomatic — to precede his appearance at Soundset 2011.

Also, Kristoff Krane mentioned that there are a few gaps in his upcoming tour. Here's what he had to say, and information for you to help him out.

As you may observe. We have some gaps in between dates that we still need to fill, due to shows falling through and what not. I really really want to meet you all if I can and it'd be a shame not to be able to hang. So...

If anyone can assist us with the locations listed below, please email Brady at Skillkrane@gmail.com, Thanks.

Dates we need to book:

-May 21st, Ohio or Wisconsin
-June 3rd, Nebraska or Kansas
-June 8th, Kansas or Colorado or New Mexico
-June 11th, Colorado
-June 12th, New Mexico or Colorado
-June 14th, Nevada or New Mexico
-June 15th-19th, California (from San Diego to San Fran)

Concert Announcement: 'Pink_A_Palooza' featuring Jordan Looney

Saturday night at the Triple Rock Social Club Jordan Looney will headline Pink_A_Palooza. The night will feature rappers/bands from the Twin Cities and Chicago, and there will be plenty of free giveaways to supplement the music. I'd go if I weren't out of town. You should attend too.

Big Jess: "Not About Ya'll" + Album Release Party

Here's another new track from Big Jess' upcoming double album, Self Therapy/Good Clean Fun 3. The albums will be available for free tomorrow, via the Unknown Prophets website. They feature guest appearances from MaD SoN, Braille, Musab, Muja Messiah, Mally, and more. Keep in mind that Big Jess and Big Zach of Kanser are throwing a concert together to celebrate the release of Jess' double album and Zach's New Crayons album. That will be on Thursday, March 24.

Big Jess: "Not About Ya'll"

Guante & Big Cats!: 2/12/11 Concert at The Fine Line Music Cafe

Last Saturday, Guante & Big Cats! performed in downtown Minneapolis at The Fine Line Music Cafe. Empty, of Empty's Tapes, was there to record the show. Huge props to him.

"Big shout to Empty - if you recordin' it then I'm immortal 'cause a torrent is my origin" -Guante

Guante & Big Cats!: 2/12/11 Concert at The Fine Line Music Cafe

Lipset & Lokes: 'Level Heads LP' Album Release Party (Video)

Big Quarters: "Octo" + Concert at Triple Rock 11/27

Medium Zach: 'Catch A Case Mondays' Live Beat Set (Video)

Catch A Case Mondays happens every Monday at Honey on East Hennippen and NE 2nd St. This month's special guest will be Medium Zach of Big Quarters.

Concert Announcement: 'The Music Marathon' featuring Jordan Looney

Midwest Broadcast is helping to sponsor this little shindig going down at the Nomad World Pub on Saturday October 23. Performances by Jordan Looney, Conflict of Interest, The Thank You Notes, and more. Here is a link to the Facebook event page, check it out!

Lazerbeak: 'Legend Recognize Legend' Release Party (Video)

Muja Messiah: "Gary Coleman" (Music Video)

New Muja Messiah, produced by Benzilla and from his upcoming mixtape M-16s, which will be out September 14. Muja is also throwing a mixtape release concert on September 9 at the 7th St Entry with I Self Devine, Black Blondie & Benzilla.

Muja Messiah: "Gary Coleman"

I.B.E., Danami, Mally, & Mike Dreams: The Coalescent Show, Act 1

This is going down tomorrow, August 31 at Cause Spirits & Soundbar (formerly Sauce) on S. Lyndale. It's free, and you'll see some of the Twin Cities' best young talent! Win win situation, right there.

Event Announcement: From Vices To Verses (April 9-11 at the University of Minnesota)

This weekend the University of Minnesota will be hosting the three-day conference, From Vices To Verses: A New Era of Hip-Hop and Action. The event should be fantastic, with intellectual seminars on feminism in hip-hop and using the genre as a tool of social action, as well as a Saturday night concert featuring Dead Prez, Toki Wright, Guante, Maria Isa, and more. Hip-hop is a transcendent cultural resource with untapped potential for social influence. I wish I could attend and partake in the conference, and am excited to hear how everything turns out. Please do attend if you're in the Twin Cities over the weekend and have some free time. Check out the following press release, and make sure to visit the Vices To Verses website:

From April 9 to April 11, the University of Minnesota will be hosting “From Vices to Verses” a conference featuring workshops, performances, discussions and educational events centered on how hip hop pedagogy, activism and culture can educate, empower and transform communities.

Organized by Voices Merging at the U of MN, along with University and community partners, the conference will focus on three central themes:

· April 9: “I Used to Love H.E.R.: Bring Back the Love,” exploring hip hop feminism and women’s roles—past, present and future—in the culture. Keynote speaker: hip hop activist and former Green Party Vice Presidential candidate Rosa Clemente.
· April 10: “Remixing Borders, Transcending Boundaries,” focusing on using hip hop as a tool to create unity and move beyond generational, national and cultural boundaries. Keynote speaker: hip hop activist and author Bakari Kitwana.
· April 11: “Us,” focusing on hip hop’s power to heal and transform individuals and communities through organizing, activism and youth engagement. Keynote speaker: educator and multidisciplinary artist Marc Bamuthi Joseph.

Other presenters include filmmaker Rachel Ramist, Chaka Mkali of the Hope Community Center, Sage Morgan Hubbard of Northwestern University, Ruth Nicole Brown of the University of Illinois, poet and activist Tish Jones, rapper/poet/writer Kyle “Guante” Myhre, photographer B-Fresh and many more.

On Saturday, April 10, noted Twin Cities performers Toki Wright, Maria Isa, PosNoSys, Ill Chemistry, the Tru Ruts crew and others will take over the Cabooze for a special concert.

Soundset 2010 Lineup Announced

I know this happened a while ago, but I wasn't not going to post it. Buy tickets here.

Heiruspecs College Scholarship Fund Concert: 2/25/10 at Central High School

I mentioned this show in a previous post featuring live audio from a Heiruspecs show, but was holding off on the official concert announcement until I had a digital flyer to display. Lo and behold, Saint Paul's finest just made the announcement official on their website. Now it's time for me to follow suit.

Please go to this event. Not only will it be an evening of amazing music, but proceeds go towards one of the best causes imaginable.

Sims, Toki Wright, & Danami: Feb. 13 Concert Announcement (Video)

The Twin Cities Hip-Hop Awards

It took me long enough to post about this. But, if you have some free time tomorrow night, which you will, because it's Friday, head on over to the First Ave mainroom to catch the Twin Cities Hip-Hop Awards. Tons of great performers, and plenty of awards to present; should be a great night.

And someone send me an email if I win "TC Best Documentarian," for which Midwest Broadcast got nominated, okay?