New York City, the birthplace of the historic culture infusing the influence to rap, spin, mix records, break dance, graffiti tag and bomb, fashioning fresh kicks and advocates diversity for people to respect where you come from.

Last week I was able to catch a full glance at the Big Apple's love for the scene I call home: the world of Twin Cities hip-hop. A week ago I came across a small venue the Sin Sin. A lounge over in the Lower East Side of Manhattan (my parents' old stomping ground), where a line of backpack hip-hop heads signed up for the monthly emcee battled. I was invited by an NYU graduate student who had interviewed and informed me of the event earlier that day. After ordering a cocktail and scoping the environment with Chilo (the other half of New York's Dr. Loco crew which toured the Twin Cities last August), I recognized a few artist with whom I performed alongside my NY release tour last June.

One of them known as MC Niles Davis (whom I did a show with in Brooklyn and was also a resident of Brooklyn Park,MN), insisted I sign up for the first round of the night's battle. My intentions weren't to go and participate, but I couldn't help but sign up to see what type of lyrical ammunition I could spread. Later on that night I met with Minneapolis' Chaz Kangis, who has been the succeeding champion for more than 15 times. The 23 year-old, De La Salle alumni rocked a rugged-US flag bandanna on his head, with a similar lyrical swag that could be compared to the style of Slug from Atmosphere. His comedic metaphors and expressions placed him on the list of favorite emcees who attended the annual cypher sessions that occur every Monday.

Hosted by Ill-Spoken for over 8 years with Dj Milk Money- on the 1s and 2s, and a small house band (made up of musicians who select the beats for each round;the bass players wife is from St. Cloud I found out), the battles are broken up by different topics: world politics, current events, tv shows, rap songs, sports and more, which are all spun "price is right" style on the themes' bicycle wheel. With double digits numbers of men battling and me as the only female in the competition that night, I had to listen to the weak hits of "you're a lil girl and honey go to the kitchen." But, the small smacks didn't do nothing but make me fire back, like a dragon burning down a wanna-be emcee castle. It was no question that between Chaz and MI, the Twin Cities came in and exploded a "sota-can" to fizz and drown what was being represented as New York underground battle rap.

"There's something happening in the Twin Cities. A bomb that is helping the true hip-hop culture survive," commented native New Yorker Ill-Spoken after hearing a similar phrase from Dr.Loco's Chilo.

Before leaving Sin Sin that night to head back to uptown, I said my good-byes and reminded everyone to attend and support the following Saturday's NYC stop of the "Fresh Air" tour presenting Rhymesayers Entertainment artist Brother Ali alongside label mates Toki Wright, BK-One and the most recently signed Evidence of the well-known crew Dilated Peoples.

The following Saturday I met up with hometown brotha, rapper and mentor Toki Wright right before his set at the famous Irving Plaza's Fillmore venue. He treated me as he always does, like an older brother/big cousin on the watch for his sista. It felt great to see the homies from the Miny-apple in the Big Apple, and for once feel the love for them outside of the local TC scene. With a packed venue the emotions and reactions from the crowd felt just like I was back at home watching them at First Avenue's Main Room or SoundSet. As Toki hit the stage to introduce himself seconds before his set began, a stage production set off with BK-One breaking the ice on his 1s and 2s, along with an awe of lights and video back play flashing Rhymesayers' and featured artists' logos; I remember smiling as the center glare flashed at Mr. Wright, who stood like a king on a throne with his crown as a traditional Twins ball cap in a Yankees wonderland.

As the beat to his first track of the night dropped, the energy of the whole room waved there hands side to side as if Toki's dreds advocated their direction. In other words: the crowd was feeling it! A recap towards one of the ways Toki is an advocates, his latest video of the single "Devil's Advocate" off his recent release 'A Different Mirror,' is currently on rotation at VH1 and MTV stations. Toki closed his set commenting that it was time for others to recognize that he "was way more than a hype man!" I have to agree with the rapper who has devoted years of his art towards non-profit organizations and toured through Africa. But that wasn't the end of the night for the opening act and host who announced the next Rhymesayer emcee on the set list.

Evidence! .....To be continued

Be sure to vote for Toki Wright's "Devils Advocate" video on MTV.com and VH1.com!!

Check out the official Toki Wright website at  www.tokiwright.com

Song of the Post:

"Devils Advocate"- Toki Wright

A Different Mirror Album of the Week "Us" - Brother Alí

The Latino Alternative Music Conference kicked off on Tuesday night inviting artist, musicians, labels, publishing companies, marketers, and production companies from all over the country to its10th year anniversary in New York City's Roosevelt Hotel.  It's to be said "the place to be" if you are a person in the music business representing Latino America in the alternative-urban genres. 
Going into it's third day, Venezuelan funk, disco, acid-jazz band Los Amigos Invisables has highlighted the event with a presentation at the Apple Store in SoHo, commemorating thier single "Vivire Para Ti" featuring Natalia Lafourcade as one of Itunes' new single of the week. 

Later on that evening, BMI also hosted a special showcase Verano Alternativo“ Women of Latin Music,"presented at S.O.B's.  I must say I did enjoy parts of the evening meeting up with BMI Director of Latin Music Porfirio Piña (whom also was the MC of the night), but expected a bit more of the hip-hop element which was represented by La Niña Dioz , a rapper from Monterrey, Mexico.  Not to Faltar el respecto to another female, but maybe it could have been that "the sound" wasn't being a good amigo to her towards the end of the night.  As a big fan of international women in hip-hop, I'll give her maybe one more shot which she will take later on tonight at the LAMC Showcase on the Lower East Side's Bowery Ballroom. But, hey everyone's entitled to their own opinion and taste.

Last night, I had a great time on Orchard Street at an after-party hosted at the Annex.  The late night showcased the wonderful work of Maleco Collective, which features frontman Malverde who is known best for his political activism through lyricism in Latin Hip-Hop.  Not only did Malverde perform with his electro-fusion rockin' crew, but this afternoon took seat as a panelist for  "Politik Killz: Latino Artist and Political Engagement in the Era of Obama," along with Maria Teresa Kumar (Voto Latino), Reynaldo Casas (MTV Tr3s), Marco Werman (PRI's "The World), Amy Blackman (Amy B MGMT/Cookman International), and Greg Landau (Round World Music).  The panel focused on the United States' "promises of tomorrow" and how the aftermath of the 2008 election is and isn't contributing to Latinos in our country.  With the questions of to "Why Miami-Cubano, rapper Pitbull and Boricua reggaeton-hitman Daddy Yankee are Republicans," to bullet points explaining the fact that the underground Latin Hip-Hop scene is a powerful fist towards the social justice movement and a tool for public awareness.  Maria Teresa Kumar representing Voto Latino addressed three key points on: creating a civic agenda, immigration reform, and voter registration with advocacy from celebrities such as Rosario Dawson, Jessica Alba, Fat Joe and Jennifer Lopez.  
 
I also caught up with "Sota" friend and U of M alumni, Jessica Phillips who is the Vice President of Marketing at EMI Televisa, as well as the Senior Director of Customer Marketing for EMI Music Marketing.  It is her 2nd time at the conference and she expressed how the LAMC is "a great opportunity to network with Latin Alternative influencers, building relationships that help facilitate collaborations and breakout opportunities for artists exposing their performances."

I have found that participants at each event network immediately with major companies, independent distributors, production and media networks as well as other artists from different genres representing the Latino Market. 

With an early day tomorrow at the Roosevelt Hotel for the panels "Radio Relevance: Debating the Role of Terrestrial Stations in a Digital Age," and "Staying 'Vivo' in the Economic Downturn: Opportunities for Changing Times," I am still trying to head out to catch Mexico's four-time Latin Grammy nominee and Sony/BMG artist Natalia Lafourcade tonight at the Bowery. 


I take a sip for my Sota always and a "que Rico" for the taste. Saludos Twin Cities desde Nueva York.  Peace- M.I.


M.I. Artist Pick for the Week:

-Maleco Collective
(Latin / Alternative / Hip Hop- Echo Park, California)
www.myspace.com/malecocollective

-Eljuri
(Afro-beat / Alternative / Latin- Guayaquil, Ecuador)

http://www.eljurimusic.com/

-La Yegros
(Alternative / Electronica / Folk- Buenos Aires, Argentina)
http://www.myspace.com/layegros

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. 

Twin Cities and the world...it is a must and a good thing to look up and enjoy the "Lightning and Thunder Vol. 1 Concert" once released.  This project produced by Kyle Borchert aka "HighStyle Kyle," is an astonishing project uplifting diversity of the Afro-Latino community and it's unification through rhythm and political lyricism here in the Twin Cities.  A most def fist of it's kind. The album was release last March of 2008 under Tru Ruts and SmokeSignyls Productions.  Proclaimed as the "Best who'd a-thunk-it'd come-from-Minnesota CD," by Chris Riemenschnider (Best of 2008 Recap) along with an all-star cast of performing artist, this video will definately highlight the energy of this compilations sound.  For those who missed last years release show at the Varsity, can now look forward to picking up a copy. Be on the look out the new "Lightning and Thunder Vol.2," album which is in production right now at SmokeSignyls studios.  

For more information check out:

www.smokesignyls.com