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Since the mid-1990s, Portland has had a small but vibrant hip-hop scene. Over the years, though, it's suffered from fragmentation and what some say is a lack of institutional support compared to other big cities.
That may be changing, according to artists who say the local movement is undergoing a renaissance. Hip-hop veterans such as Cool Nutz, who co-founded the Portland Oregon Hip-Hop Festival (POH-Hop), and rapper Mic Crenshaw are among those working to unite the different subgenres, like gangsta and underground. In recent months, Cool Nutz has launched a hip-hop radio show and a concert series. He considers himself "an ambassador and diplomat" for Northwest urban music.
One young artist attracting attention is Luck-One Conscious, a 24-year MC who just released Beautiful Music, his first album. Luck-One is part of Portland's so-called consciousness hip-hop movement. A devout Muslim, Luck-One says Islam is at the "centerpiece" of everything he does.
Cool Nutz and Luck-One will be coming into the studio to give us their takes on where the local hip-hop scene is headed. We'll also check in with Portland Mercury music critic Graham Barey and Adrienne Flagg, creative director of the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, which is staging a hip-hop cabaret this weekend aimed at highlighting hip-hop from rap to graffiti.
Are you a hip-hop artist, producer or afficionado living in Oregon or the Northwest? What's new and exciting about the local scene? What sets it apart? Where is it heading? What are the challenges unique to hip-hop in this area?
GUESTS:
- Cool Nutz: Co-founder of POH-Hop, hip hop artist and radio host with his own label, Jus Family Records
- Luck-One Conscious: MC/rapper who recently released his first album
- Graham Barey: music critic for the Portland Mercury
- Adrienne Flagg: Creative director for the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center
Tagged as: arts · hip hop · music
Photo credit: allaboutgeorge / Flickr / Creative Commons
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Congratulations to Terrence (Cool Nutz) for a distinguished career. I first knew him as a college student in a class I taught and have followed his career ever since. And I am living proof that he has something important to say to us. I am an old white lady now living in Eastern Oregon and I value his insight and his integrity. Linda in LaGrande
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I'm a self proclaimed hiphop head who lives in the Northwest. I've been a fan of POH-Hop since 2000.
I think the underground scene in Portland is very underrated. It's definitely a breath of fresh air compared to the mainstream hiphop scene. The most exciting part about the local scene is like Cool Nutz said, there's quality music out here. One group that really stands out in my mind is The Sandpeople. The group is unbelievably good. It's amazing to hear such clean production matched with witty wordplay and Wu-Tang Clan proportions. If you haven't heard their music, you're missing out.
What really sets Portland's hip hop scene apart is it's versatility. It's incredible to see conscious artists like Mos Def and The Roots come to Portland, and I hope the movement continues. Even the mainstream artists like Ice Cube and Method Man even play shows here.
I only see the scene getting better as it gets more exposure. In closing, I'll leave you with a quote off of The Sandpeople's latest album, Honest Racket.
"..we've got heads nodding, and they're turning towards Portland"
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Yes---we must save hip-hop and encourage it's growth in Portland!!! I can't image a place without it---whatever. Sorry but it isn't about race, I know---is that possible? Can anything not be about race? Is anything not racist. Um, its about culture, world-view and style. There are a lot of people who are never going to identify with country music, not because it is white, but because of the mentality and world-view that is generally associated with it. Of course there are exceptions, but there always are exceptions. To a lot of people hip-hop is simply not very edgy or interesting. Hip-hop is mainstream---there is not a huge scene in Portland for exactly that reason.
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Portland's hip hop scene is definitely still in it's infancy as a whole because I think how young the city is compared to the rest of the country. However, that doesn't mean the talent here is in their infancy. Cats like Othello (of Lightheaded) and Ohmega Watts have been holding it down for years with some amazing artistry to their work. There is also a surge of "live-band" hip-hop groups or groups to have integrated hip-hop into their music, like The Manimals.
The indie-rock scene here is striving for sure, the PNW has always had a more dominate position for that scene of music, which is great. It doesn't mean that's all there is and that anyone has to diss on it because it's popular, I saw use it as a spring board to prove something here in the NW and Portland in particular.
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what cool nutz is doing for the scene definitely deserves props.
so many people in the hiphop scene are out for themselves trying to get their rap career off the ground, what we really need is more people promoting and throwing shows, more people with resources who know HOW to throw a show. we need people that will showcase new artists and have a platform to do so. cool nutz has been doing this with POHOP and with the luck one show.
i feel like when direct productions was throwing shows the scene was thriving more because big artists were being brought into town, and local acts got to open for them. hiphop shows were just generally a lot bigger at that time (in my experience). there used to always be ciphers and b-boy circles in the crowd, people battling outside after the show. now you go see an artist that should be filling a venue and there's like 75 people there.
so props to cool nutz for helping the scene in a way he's uniquely qualified to do, as someone who knows the biz and has name recognition and resources to lend from his own hard work and experience.
sandpeople were smart to pool the resources of so many individuals and create something bigger and more accessible. their crew albums are successful because they all promote the same record instead of a bunch of different releases with different names, and having many short verses by different emcees on each track allows them to have variety and not get stale.what people don't realize is, if the artists in sandpeeps hadn't joined forces in one big crew, people may not have ever heard of the individual members, regardless of how talented they are.
so, i'm not hating on the scene i'm just showing where i think theres a lot of room to grow, and i want to make people aware that they are only seeing the tip of the iceberg, there is a lot more dope music to be uncovered but you may have to go looking for it.
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As the daughter of an African History professor and the mother of Hip-hop MC, slam poet and painter Jason Graham (AKA Mosley Wotta), I cannot agree more strongly with the assertion that education is key when it comes to the understanding and appreciation of Hip-hop as an art form. Young musicians coming up need to understand the history of the music and pay respect to its roots.
My son, who is currently based in Bend, Oregon performs in all sorts of different venues from nightclubs and bars to middle schools and high schools, where he also teaches Hip-hop workshops to young people, with the emphasis on the Hip-hop tenets of "Peace, love, unity and having fun." He is a strong believer that creative energy must have an outlet or it becomes destructive. He encourages young people to "use what's around you to improve what's around you".
Hip-hop has its deepest roots in African culture and every time we hear the rhythms and rhymes of Hip-hop, we are all connecting to that original source of energy and inspiration. Music is always evolving and changing. I am encouraged to know that the Portland Hip-hop culture is alive and thriving.
In the words of Gil Scott-Heron, "Seasons may change and feelings may change, but music remains and it heals you."
Heartfelt thanks for this wonderful interview and for the insightful comments of Cool Nutz and Luck-One Conscious,
Carolyn Graham Tsuneta
Bend, Oregon
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As someone who's worked with a lot of the names in this post (done songs & shows with Cool Nutz / Luck), I just want to reiterate how much Terrence has really done for the Northwest hip-hop scene.
He has seized and created a community leadership role where there wasn't one before. He's a positive role model for a lot of people and without question one of the hardest working people I've had the opportunity to come across.
Oh and Carolyn - while your son and I represent different hip-hop factions within the small city of Bend, we do have a couple collaborations started and should be working together soon. Looking forward to the final product. I'm sure you are very proud, he's a really bright young man.
Here's to making the scene all it can be. Brick by brick.
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hello i am a recording artist from san diego and i live in portland oregan they call me westcraven i do hip hop music witha west coast vibe www.myspace.com/westcravenswaccunitceo or you can down load my music for free www.datpiff.com/westcraven im living in the portland area doing music you might see me down town with me cdz on thr corner of fifth in morison selling my mixx tapes or you can hit me on my email westcraven3000@yahoo.com
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tha hottest artist in hip hop music today is westcraven check it out for ur self from portland to san diego hes shutin it down www.myspace.com/westcravenswaccunitceo i am the new face of the west coast check out my music pic videos and more on my myspace page im from san diego but i live in portland and im enjoyin tha north west life style much love to cool nutz and dj chill for keepin it real street with me westcraven music google me search (westcraven rap) on youtube you just got to look for me and im trying to start a west coast based recorded lable so investor hollar at me westcraven3000@gmail.com check out my free down loads four different mixx tape for free www.datpiff.com/westcraven all westcraven beezo twsitedinsane song check it out from portland to san diego seattel the whole west coast feel the heat wave ...........
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no more computers who killed the dj, everyone shows up with a computer and push's play then bust a set what... where is the stage show why does a machine replace a man. also shows are frequently of poor sound quality why can't a portland sound man get it right or is rock all portland cares about. i think a club devoted to hip-hop would be great but those clubs are often plagued by idiots commiting violence and drug abuses plus the cops hate hip-hop
im swayze