@aideyfanaccount I get the sentiment of this. But to call the hip hop scene in Chs stale and stagnant is wild. Theres much more going on off the peninsula than on, from North Charleston to Ridgeville there’s a thriving movement of black clubs, events, concerts dedicated to breaking local talent and putting artists in some form of motion. For example,Keon recently linked with DJ Chuck T at a spot in North Charleston and has been doing showcases out of the city. These are specifically geared for hip hop and RnB and many opportunities I’ve seen and experienced have come out of these RELATIONSHIPS.

The peninsula tolerates, not celebrates hip hop and most black culture. This is just a historical fact. If it’s not fine arts, it’s not respected in the city. No one is visiting Charleston for its hip hop so we have to first understand this and the field we are playing in. There were no hip hop shows at the places we currently frequent, 10 years ago. People like DollaMenu, Slim Soul, Tyrie, Anfernee, Jah Jr, Apollo Valdez, Little Stranger, Damn Skippy brought hip hop to the peninsula. The new renaissance of rappers in the mix are supposed to elevate it. How can we expect people to rock with the scene when WE don’t.

Yes, things can be different if people came together but that’s the point. Theres so much tremendous talent here trapped by ego, point blank. People fear collaboration in local hip hop. People can’t take criticism without burning a bridge in local hip hop. People are extremely divisive in local hip hop. People don’t support each other in this shit or expand themselves outside of their comfort zones. Everybody wants to make it look a certain way on social media without cultivating what WE are creating here in Charleston. That’s why you see stagnation on the peninsula side of Charleston. LongMoney Phil, Kweena Dess, Laylow Lee, all non peninsula performers are 3 of the biggest hip hop artists out of Charleston rn. All three have been national major platforms, putting on for Charleston and shining light on the city.

Wu Tang at Music Farm was a MILESTONE for Charleston hip hop. A show FOR US BY US at one of the city’s most well known venues. But bro this was just last year. I say that so that you understand that, once again, hip hop has historically been tolerated and not celebrated here until the artists themselves started collaborating and creating major situations for the underground (ie Matt Monday, Black Dave, LeFaye, Slim) that made hip hop ‘a thing’ DT, JI, even Folly. These events still thrive and pop off  but who else is working to create avenues for artists to pop? It’s not the venue. It’s not the sound. It’s the lack of know how when it comes to building and communicating in a music community with major talent and the artists becoming comfortable or settling for their market.

I go to, perform at, and have curated hella shows that are more than artists and producers. I have also seen the direct opposite many of times. It’s a process brother and if we can’t exist in this outside of ourselves then yes, this shit will continue to feel stale and stagnant for you. I love and am a fan of you bro and you bring a different style, sound, and community INTO the full network. That’s the point. Thats the reason why it’s not stagnant because all of these factions thrive in their sections but not many have taken the time to expand outside of it and see what’s truly out there. Network, support, collaboration is key. Then we can all get big ass chains like the homie DollaMenu but he EARNED that shit and really put in the work for years to pop like he’s doing.

The last few months have been particularly slow, but to call the scene ‘stale, stagnant’ and judge artists based on meta stats and releases is almost disrespectful to the ones in the community who bust ass BEHIND scenes to make shit shake forreal. People take different approaches that’s why we have studio artists and performance artists, and both. But there’s a difference. Psycodelics is arguably the biggest thing out of Charleston and they just released their debut single. It’s levels. We activated out here and it’s a bigger picture than this downtown, island, beach circuit.

Here’s a list of places and people you should definitely check out: Jungles Bar n Grill, The Ritz , Meeting of the Mindz, Mugga Man, DJ Chuck T, DJ Billy Surplus etc all entities that have packed out rap shows with artists, producers, business owners, fans. Heavy motion

I respect your opinion, but I emphatically disagree family-this shit is bigger than the 5-10 venues down here that we all circulate in.