The city that gave us Prince, Atmosphere, and Lizzo (plus Dylan) is known for its awesome underground music. Minneapolis hip-hop music started to take the underground by storm in the early 2000s and in 2021, the Twin Cities rap scene is still pumping out talent above and under the radar. There are so many underrated GOATS in this region these days, it’s crazy.
These 10 rappers spit lyrical mastery with original style and an intensity that will rock your speakers all year long. The St. Paul and Minneapolis Hip-hop scene is alive and thriving. Check it out, cause if you snooze you lose on the Twin Cities’ sublime talent.
Prof
Prof has been rockin’ the Twin Cities from his first album in 2007 until 2020’s Powderhorn Suites. The album’s title pays homage to South Mineapolis’s Powderhorn Park, a colorful neighborhood that embraces diversity, self-expression, and community. Prof’s work is comedic and real, a one-two combo that doesn’t punch your face so much as tickle your funny bone. Expertly-delivered tongue-in-cheek themes, eclectic style, and radical embodiment of his true self make Prof one of the nation’s most underrated GOATS.
(Check out our interview with Prof from 2018 when he came to Seattle)
Mac Irv
Twin Cities rapper Mac Irv’s first album of 2021 The Breakthrough throws out good vibes that inspire dreams of better days ahead. It’s not all roses, though. Mac wrote 2015’s prophetic single “Change” before Philando Castile or George Floyd after he and his crew were held at gunpoint by Minneapolis police while filming a music video. Delivering trademark impressive flows over emphatic beats and booms, Mac’s music is both lyrical and poppin’, deeply insightful and bent on rising above. Old or new, his tracks are just perfect for this year.
Orikal Uno
St. Paul’s Orikal Uno is half of the hip-hop group OnePlusOne, along with Dispute One. A super-smooth rapper and songwriter, Uno is also a respected music producer and audio engineer. In 2017, Orikal’s single “Knockin” was rated the top music video by a Minnesota artist by the area’s foremost arts publication, City Pages. His latest batch of singles is top-shelf material and way better than most of what you’ll hear played on Top 40 radio stations.
Dessa
Known as Dessa or Dessa Darling, this Twin Cities hip-hop artist goes from poppin’ snappy rap bars to crooning lyrical melodies with the grace of a swan cruising a Northwoods lake. Her fluid style and fine talent make Dessa a most versatile rapper/singer/songwriter. She’s been a vital part of indie rap group Doomtree’s success, played a Tiny Desk Concert, performed for KEXP, and written a book detailing her experiences as a touring musician. Inspiring, outspoken, feminine, and totally badass, Dessa’s time is now.
DisputeOne
DisputeOne (fka Extreme) has been a staple on the Twin Cities hip-hop scene forever. Well, a really long time, anyway. He’s had successful international album releases, established several hot hip-hop crews like OnePlusOne, Definition of Sound, and Synoptic Pressure, and he was a founding member of The Loud Mouth League, Minnesota’s prime battle rap league and is now Loudmouth Media’s Marketing Director. That kind of experience can only mean one thing – this dude’s got mad rap game skills. Catch his latest album, Genesis, on Soundcloud.
Muja Messiah
Underground Minneapolis hip-hop artist Muja Messiah delivers passionate, politically-charged street anthems that tie serious social issues with politically incorrect satire. Linked with hard-core rap crew Raw Villa, Muja’s shared stages with big names like The Roots, Slick Rick, Common, Ghostface Killah, De La Soul, Grandmaster Flash, KRS-One, Redman, 50-Cent, Atmosphere, and way more. Muja’s not about to stop there, and his flow is only growing in 2021.
Obi Original
Nigerian native and Minnesota-based rapper Obi Original is following his dream of creating a space for afro-pop in the United States, and he’s doing it in the Twin Cities, of all places. While the Twin Cities has produced more than its fair share of amazing underground hip-hop artists, the scene has lacked the diversity present in other big hip-hop cities. Like his hit single, “Tsunami,” Obi Original is making waves with his smooth vocals and afro-fusion vibes. He’s definitely an artist to keep an eye on in 2021.
Drelli
If you listen to a Drelli song and your head doesn’t start bopping, you might not have a heartbeat. All joking aside, Drelli’s upbeat energy, masterful flow, and inventive creativity bring verve and excitement to Minnesota’s hip-hop scene. His videos add color to his audio tracks, and his quirky style is genuine G without being overly hip. In short, everything Drelli does just keeps getting better, and you’ll be jamming his tracks all Spring and into the summer (at the very least). If you’re looking for a mood-booster, sit back, hit your fave strain, and turn up some Drelli.
Nimic Revenue
Growing up, Nimic Revenue has used music as a way to cope with depression, anxiety, and other mental challenges. The Twin Cities hip-hop artist struggled with self-doubt before choosing to believe in herself and put her music first. Now, at just 21 years old, the St. Paul rapper has signed with Def Jam Records, released three albums and a bunch of singles, collaborated with up-and-coming artists like Allan Kingdom and Chief Keef, and found purpose in her music. Nimic’s fresh sound and relatable message will brighten 2021 for anyone who’s felt left in the dark.
Nado NSE
St. Paul’s Nado NSE brings good vibes to the Twin Cities’ hip-hop scene with syncopated rhythms beneath classic flow enhanced by cinematic loops. There’s a kind of ring-a-ding-ding, Marvel Universe kind of vibe – if Marvel was modern Twin Cities hip-hop. There’s a little bit of everything in the beats here, a real mix of styles and themes that defies regional shoe-boxing. At the same time, Nado’s feel is classic rap in a way, speaking to street vibes plus personal vulnerability. Just check it. It’s not brain food, it’s not fantasy, it’s just one kind of real perspective.
Did we miss anyone on our Minneapolis hip-hop list? Let us know at info@respectmyregion.com
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