I know it's been a few months in which I haven't posted fellow bloggers and I apologize dearly. I'm deeply honored to have been invited to write on behalf of our Twin Cities community and with many things coming this summer I do plan on hitting up the blog way more often.
So much has happend in 2009 and I am in front of many doors at the moment, in which I plan on learning what it takes to make them open........if it's meant to be.
My sophmore album "Street Politics" (production by Ganzobean, Steven Helvig and the Maria Isa Band) is scheduled to release next week at First Avenue on June 5th, and I am more than honored for all of the responses SotaRico is receiving. Many have asked me to when and where did my carreer as a Hip-Hop vocalist kick off. I must say that the legendary Dinkytowner Cafe which will be closing down tomorrow has been a place in where I have been educated, critiqued and inspired by as an artist and child of the Minnesota music culture.
I performed my first show presented by Yo the Movement there, celebrated my 18th birthday, met fellow Boricua Tony Touch; threw an unexpected Bombazo right on the streets outside its doors in the summer of 2006; collaborated with many different artist; filled Dinkytowner up with a crew of WestSiders whom often enjoyed crossing the river for a great hip-hop show; we ate our favorite french fries with ranch dip!! I also recall having a few workers assume that I was over 21 at the age of 19 before giving the staff a warning to be concerned cause the 5-0 was in the house. Lol... It's all good now.
I also remember my favorite sandwhich the "Rafael." It helped me gain an appetite after my uncles passing from in un-expected heart attack in March of 2008. The staff helped me through a grieving process as well as the friends who spun there such as Dj Miguel Vargas who would spin ol' school funk and classic salsa making the Christmas lite up ceilings feeling like home.
From beat battles, bills with line-ups supporting local women in hip-hop, Los Nativos spiritual album release, all ages shows, to A Westside Hip-Hop showcase, these are only a few of the many hundreds of memories I've had in a basement full of everydayers, locals and new campus living students in need of a place to shoot pool and express or even find thereselves a spot in the city of lakes.
I will miss getting ready to have a good time goofing around and sharing laughs with friends, but most of all I am thankful to have been a part of its history in which will forever live through the textbooks of our own hip-hop community.
Gracias Dinkytowner for your continual support, respect and love. Myself as well as many hip-hopians wouldn't be where we're at with our elements today without'cha! We carry you then, now and with us in the future always. PEACE!!! -MI


Readers!!!!:
Be sure to attend the last show at the Dinkytowner in honor of Dinkytowner's hip-hop event organizer and Kanser's very own Unicus's birthday.