I'm convinced that Madison's hip-hop is just as talented per capita as Milwaukee's hip-hop scene is, and due to their smaller size they are even more slept on than the Cream City.
Two guys that are part of the crème de la crème of Madison's scene are Emcee Starr, also known as Oliver Stixx, and DJ Pain 1. The emcee and producer – known as The Fall Guys – are also radio personalities in Big Red.
Starr has been rapping for a while now and has made plenty of trips to Milwaukee, and you might be familiar with him from a blog post I did about one of his music videos, while Pain 1 has found some industry love through producing track for Young Jeezy, Gucci Mane, artists on Young Money/Cash Money and more.
Right now they are gearing up for the release of a new mixtape "Clocked In," and they've released the first single from the forthcoming tape, a track called "Well Respected" that features Joell Ortiz – member of rap super group Slaughterhouse that is signed to Eminem's Shady Records – and Disturbing Tha Peace artist I-20, who many will know from his guest verse on Ludacris' song "Move B*tch."
The track has a very DJ Premier feel to it with the emcees taking a brief tour through their battle with hip-hop. It's actually a very light track that makes for a good "close summer out" song.
You can stream and download "Well Respected" for free here.
Born in Milwaukee and raised in the Milwaukee suburb of Brown Deer, Concordia University Wisconsin alumnus Poppe has spent the majority of his life in or around the city and county of Milwaukee.
As an advocate of Milwaukee's hip-hop community Poppe began popular local music blog Milwaukee UP in March 2010. Check out the archived entries here.
Though heavy on the hip-hop, Poppe writes about other genres of music and occasionally about food, culture or sports, and is always ready to show his pride in Milwaukee and Wisconsin.
