Hip Hop News - Colorado Rappers Brew Rocky Mountain Hip-Hop high

Jun 19, 2006 - LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - The next hip-hop hot spot is percolating "in the middle of nowhere" -- as Procussions member Mr. J Medeiros feels most people view Colorado.

Given the state's conservative image, rap would appear to be an unlikely byproduct. But the Colorado Springs-nurtured Procussions, along with other independent acts in the Denver/Boulder area, are determined to make the music industry aware of the brewing hip-hop scene on tap in Colorado -- even if, as Procussions and Deux Process did, they have to leave the state to do so.

National record labels are taking notice. Rawkus Records marked its relaunch with the May 30 release of the Procussions' album "5 Sparrows for 2 Cents." Established in 1996, Rawkus built its reputation on a series of critically acclaimed rap albums by Talib Kweli, Mos Def and Hi-Tek, among others.

Deux Process, also from Colorado Springs, released its label debut, "In Deux Time," in January through Avatar Records.

"It's definitely a thriving mecca," Avatar A&R chief Donnie Bo Sibley says of the Denver-area hip-hop scene.

But Deux Process and the Procussions got signed only after they relocated to Los Angeles a few years ago. Having exhausted Colorado's less extensive circuit of radio, open-mic and club gigs, both groups felt the only recourse was to move to a larger market -- for their careers' sake as well as that of other area hip-hop acts.

"After four or five years, we had great local buzz," Medeiros says. "But no one from the music industry was trying to holler at us. We figured if they won't come to us, we'll come to them."

"We'd done everything there to solidify our careers," Deux Process member Vise Versa (aka Mike Landers) adds. "Everywhere we turned, doors were shut in our faces. We thought if we could bring the national scope on us outside the state, that would help the scene here."

HITTING THE ROAD

Vise Versa and bandmates Chief Nek (born Alan Johnson) and DJ Shawn Dub are on the first leg of a promotional tour that swings through the Northwest and as far down as Jacksonville, Fla. The group will kick off a second national sweep in July.

Procussions members Medeiros, Rex and Stro started the Storm Tour -- featuring Aceyalone, Diverse and others -- May 30. The tour runs through July 16.

Other Denver-area rappers making noise include MC D.O., recently crowned the Best Voice of Denver's Underground by Boulder Weekly magazine. Two years ago, he and his former act, Ground Zero Movement, joined rock group the Fray as winners of Westword magazine's annual local music awards. The Fray has since signed with Epic.

Also plying their trade in the area are rappers Black Pegasus, Kingdom, Lost Gems, Don Blas and Deuce Mob -- best known for its Thump Records release, "Going Solo," in 1996. Back in Denver after a stint in Los Angeles, Deuce Mob is readying a new album with Houston's Chingo Bling and other guests on its own Concrete Poetry label.

Artists besides Deux Process and the Procussions have opted to leave Colorado, but local radio is supporting some of the region's rappers. KQKS Denver has spun Deux Process' "Take the Dance" in recent weeks, and KMGG Denver has played "This Is the Way," the first single from Deuce Mob's new album, 65 times in the last several weeks, according to Nielsen BDS.

In fact, D.O. says he has stayed "because I want to help finish building the scene that's been started here. I'm proud the Fray is taking off, but it's frustrating. When do the powers that be here start nurturing the hip-hop artists as well? Denver is a pot ready to explode."