Weekend what's what 7/24-7/27: Thee heart of the cities

by l’etoile magazine staff • July 27, 2008 •

As you well know, the good ol’ Twin Cities have an amazing legacy in both music and art that has been laid down for us by talented tastemakers of yore. What a brilliant creative history book could be written on our fair cities! This edition of the What’s What will not only lead you to adventures with established local legends such as Chris Osgood and Grant Hart, but will introduce you to legend-in-training Muja Messiah as he celebrates his already critically acclaimed new album Thee Adventures of a B-Boy D-Boy. This weekend is one for the books, literally!

xo-l‘étoile

Photo by Charles Miller for l’etoile

Arts Orbit is a multisource blog about the local arts scene, featuring both original contributions by Daily Planet writers and entries reprinted from partner blogs and online publications.

THURSDAY JULY 24TH

150 Years of Music Making by the River

@ Minneapolis Central Library
Pohlad Hall
300 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis

7pm-8:30pm / Free

How is it that Minneapolis musically lucked out? Chris Osgood (co-founder of Twin/Tone Records and front man of Twin Cities seminal punk band, The Suicide Commandos) knows, and is going to tell you the whens, whats and whys of the legendary Twin Cities music scene. Register through The Friends of Minneapolis Libraries at 612-630-6155 or click below. Hurry!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

FRIDAY ART PICK: THE THROW UP!

The Throw Up Release Party

@ Altered Esthetics
1224 Quincy St. NE
Northeast Mpls

7-11pm / Free

Join the mysterious art collective Pop Vomit for some good old-fashioned art-partying at Altered Esthetics tonight! Celebrate the release of issue #4 of The Throw Up, a collectible art book featuring work by a number of local artists such as Mark Vomit, Tony Kephart, Kate Iverson, Justin James Sehorn, Katrin Snider, Jeff Evrard, Scott Johnson, Jesse Draxler, & Coy Douglas Larson. What started as a self-released “scrapbook” has turned into a medium for unknown artists to gain exposure, a visual candy store for those looking for something unique, and an ongoing collector’s series. Need more incentive? Aside from the 100 pages of awesome artwork in The Throw Up Volume 4, you’ll also indulge in delightful refreshments and lay eyes on some very special vintage projections! Tonight also serves as the closing reception for the Altered Esthetics Resident Artists show, so show up or throw up!

CLICK HERE FOR THE POP VOMIT SITE

FRIDAY JULY 25TH

Purpose. Process. Progress

@ Textile Center
Joan Mondale Gallery
3000 University Ave SE
Minneapolis

6pm-8pm/free

Weaving, liturgical art and doll making are focuses of the Textile Center Mentoring Program’s five fiber artists and their seven protégées. There’s a reason why the Textile Center is so highly regarded-they’re constantly showing and encouraging collaboration and innovation in fiber art! Check out this show, if only so you can say you met a protégée. Through August 23rd.

CLICK HERE FOR THE TEXTILE CENTER SITE

COOL LINK: ANDY WARHOL UNION SQUARE

“The Sweet (and Cool) Smell of Pop Art” is an apt description for Bond No. 9’s latest creation: Andy Warhol Union Square. A light and airy floral scent with clean undertones inspired by Warhol’s famous silk-screened series of stylized flowers created in the first of his studios on Union Square. The essence of blue freesia, golden amber and musk with notes of lily of the valley and white birch wood create a subtle and energizing scent. On first sniff, Union Square comes off as cool and sensual, not overpowering – the perfect blend for a hot summer night. The bottle in itself is worth the cheese – with Warhol’s flowers layered thoughtfully over sculpted glass, interspersed with glowing blades of grass. Available in 50ml, 100ml, or even in a deluxe box set of ten different collectible bottles.

CLICK HERE FOR THE BOND NO. 9 SITE

SATURDAY JULY 26TH

Bearded Lady Motorcycle Rally & Block Party

@ 331 Club
331 13th Ave NE
Northeast Minneapolis

Noon-6pm Block Party / Bands all night at the 331 and Ritz / Free

This annual brouhaha, now in its 3rd year, promises to be the biggest and freakiest of them yet! The mayhem overtakes the street outside of the 331 for the addition of the first ever Bearded Lady Block party with more bands, more bikes, and more carnival chaos. The famous motorcycle contest occurs from 3-4pm, and bands and drinking continues all night at both the 331 and the Ritz. Beards and bike gear encouraged!

CLICK HERE FOR THE BEARDED LADY SITE

SUNDAY JULY 27TH

Muja Messiah CD Release Party

@ 1st Avenue
701 1st Avenue
Downtown Mpls

8pm / 18+ / $10

Critically acclaimed local rapper Muja Messiah busts out with his long-anticipated new album Thee Adventures of a B-Boy D-Boy, a collection of clever, beat-fueled stories that make the listener not only think, but bounce. With his roots firmly planted in Minneapolis, Muja weaves earnest tales of the city, giving us dose after dose of social commentary, aggression, triumph and satire along the way. Tonight’s CD release party will be one of the most talked about shows of the summer, so don’t even think about missing it. Hosted by Brother Ali and I-Self Divine, with Black Blondie, M.Anifest, Maria Isa, DJ Verb X, and DJ Turtleneck.

Sponsored by Black Corners, Louder Than Bombs, l’etoile magazine, HYPE, Culture Bully, Fifth Element, and Radio K

Muja Messiah sat down with us this week for a chat…

How did you first get into Hip Hop? Who pulled you into the Minneapolis scene?

Rakim did it 4 me. I heard “My Melody” from Eric B & Rakim’s Paid In Full from their classic and its been on ever since. I started doing shows after seeing the legendary Micranots perform at 1st Ave. They killed it so bad I started writing rhymes every damn day and still ain’t stopped.

Would you say the hip-hop scene in the Twin Cities is really competitive, or more of a camaraderie?

It ain’t competitive enough if you ask me. I think a lotta rappers here are stuck in their ways and are afraid to try new things. The city needs more aggression. That’s where I come in.

The overall vibe of local hip hop has been pretty indie, pretty emo, pretty DIY. How do you feel like your big productions and street-style sound fits into that?

I don’t care what you call it. I just try to make music that you can respect no matter what type of music you listen to. Whether its “emo” or “gangsta” who cares as long as its good you know, good music is good music and like I said, the city needs more aggression. I’m steppin up to the plate.

“Paper Planes” was one of the first tracks that has really gotten you some recognition. What do you think makes a really good remix?

When you remix a song that people wouldn’t normally remix. I like to catch people off gaurd. I honestly think I was the 1st to remix that M.I.A. joint.

Have your production methods changed over the years, or are you a fan of; “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”?

I keep it simple. Pick a beat, come up with a concept, write to it, record it, keep it moving. I get bored easy.

Your last release was a mixtape called MPLS Massacre...what was the concept behind that album and how does Adventures differ?

I just wanted to make some noise for Minneapolis with the Mixtape. You got Brother Ali and Slug in Europe putting the city on the map. I’m tryind to do the same, from another angle. The mixtape was more raw,street-centric where the Thee Adventures is more song oriented.

Where do you draw your inspiration? Is it taken from old school stuff, newer music, or both?

I listen to everything, Hall n’ Oates, Radiohead, Jeezy, White Stripes, Lupe Fiasco, I’m inspired by it all.

What tracks have you been bumpin’ the most this summer?

Besides my album, Thee Adventures of a B-Boy D-Boy available July 29th, hmmm…Lil’ Wayne of course, Wale, Nas, Coldplay, G-Unit and the Best of Biggie mixtape.

To read a full review of Thee Adventures of a B-Boy D-Boy by The Rake’s Max Ross, click HERE

CLICK HERE FOR THE MUJA MESSIAH MYSPACE
Photo by B Fresh

For more weekend picks, see l’etoile magazine.