I just think that sometimes we in the indie hip hop community fail to challenge ourselves, and fans fail to challenge artists who are already good to become transcendent. The conversation around underground hip hop always goes “Emcee X is so amazing because he’s not talking about cars, pimps and money.”

It’s a definite struggle to balance the fact that it is indeed important that some artists are offering an alternative with the fact that a lot of them aren’t exactly blazing new trails creatively.

Sometimes i get the feeling that underground hip hop strives for a kind of “solid, respectable mediocrity,” rather than reaching for the stars. Because we hate on mainstream hip hop so much, we’ve idealized the 1993 boom bap rapping-about-rapping style which, and i love that stuff too, isnt’ exactly innovative, unless you’re comparing it to 50 Cent.

And if any emcee should be reaching for the stars, it’s Brother Ali. Songs like “Rainwater” and “Prince Charming” and “Dorian” and “Forest Whitaker” and the last three tracks on his new album are pretty brilliant. Ha with that said maybe i AM unfairly judging Ali– but the larger point here i think is valid.

I actually just finished my book, and there’s a long essay on this phenomenon that lays it out more clearly. Maybe i’ll post some excerpts on my blog this week.

I’m not from MN, like yourself, so I won’t give a touchy, loosely nepotistic response to your ‘blasphemy’ comment, but…I just think it’s a little near sided.

is that blasphemy here in MN?

i mean, he’s a great emcee, but is a whole lot greater when he’s telling stories or exploring concept songs.