Underground hip-hop artists from Baton Rouge and other areas of Louisiana will gather on Saturday April 23, for Sounds of the South, an event celebrating the distinctive characteristics of southern hip-hop.
Creators of The Bando and Cru$ade Guerilla Art Show are curating the event.
A myriad of up-and-coming local artists will take the stage, including Made Groceries, Armed Rhymery and COOLR.
In addition to the hip hop acts, Sounds of the South will feature the work of local visual artists, such as Spaz and Lord Huey, who will be live painting throughout the night.
The evening will be kicked off with spoken word by Toi “The Poetic Beauty” Sibley.
“There’s a ton of really, really good talent here in Baton Rouge that, for some reason, don’t get a lot of attention,” event coordinator Becky Bond said. “I’m tired of that.”
Local hip hop collective Made Groceries, a regular collaborator with The Bando and Cru$ade Guerilla Art Show, will be performing both old favorites and new material during their set.
The group’s latest EP, “Free Samples,” was released in February of 2016. They’re currently working on a new EP slated for release in fall 2016.
“Our art is our life,” Made Groceries member Oeauxneal said. “Everything we make is something we literally eat, breathe and live every day.”
Armed Rhymery, an alternative hip-hop duo from Lafayette, features Mo Black and Edward X. The group will be bringing its signature fusion of hip hop and R&B vocals over funky jazz beats to the stage.
“Seldom will it take me days to write a verse. It just comes to me,” Mo Black said. “A lot of it comes from my hunger for what I’m trying to accomplish in music.”
Armed Rhymery’s new project, titled “Attitude,” is set for release in June.
Sounds of the South will also mark COOLR’s second live performance.
“You’re going to be pumped up throughout the whole performance,” COOLR member PR0 said. “I don’t want to brag or anything, but you’re not going to be able to take your eyes off of it.”
While Baton Rouge’s hip hop scene has been steadily growing over the past few years, the city could learn a lot by looking at scenes throughout the country, local artist Young Gage said.
“I just recently went to Chicago, and I got to see their hip hop scene,” Young Gage said. “It seems that the difference between here and there is the acceptance of it. They embrace it and actually support it so that it can grow. I think out here, we’ve always had hip hop, but it’s been suppressed.”
Sounds of the South
When: Saturday, April 23 at 8 p.m.
Where: The Spanish Moon, 1109 Highland Rd.
Tickets: $10