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[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally posted by Pretty Little Flower
I was not around when this debate began, but based on what you are saying, I don't disagree with your main point. In fact, I'm totally on board with your last paragraph. But there are white kids in Eden Prairie who know the Dead Prez. And in Golden Valley and Maple Grove and White Bear Lake and Coon Rapids and all of the unfortunately named, predominantly white suburbs of the Twin Cities. They are a minority of the population there, just as all people who listen to underground music are a minority of the population. Otherwise, the music would be, by definition, mainstream. There is a strong underground hip hop community in Minneapolis, thanks in part to the Rhymesayers crew (whose most famous rapper, Slug of Atmosphere) is white. Because of them and their collaborations, we get to see lots of underground hip hop crews like Def Jux and Living Legends come through town, and their is good support for underground hip hop in general, including the groups you mentioned, each of whom Ihave seen more than once in Minneapolis, generally playing to decent or good-sized crowds. But I think a large part of the Rhyemsayers fan base is white kids from Minneapolis and inner ring suburbs. And I know that it drives some of those rappers crazy, while at the same time they appreciate the support.

Okay. You would definitely know better than I. It sounds like the interest is driven by a white rapper who has opened the eyes of these kids to the underground scene. That's cool. And I bet it must be a little weird to have a bunch of privileged white kids scream approval after you've just said, "Im down for runnin up on them crackers in they city hall."

TM