Hip-hop’s elite MCs have one thing in common–the Lyricist Lounge.
The Notorious B.I.G., Eminem, and Big Punisher, to name a few, each got their starts as unsigned artists on the Lyricist Lounge tour, while some of the most respected artists in hip-hop’s history, such as Mos Def, KRS-ONE and The Roots, hosted the shows.
The shows are a mix of fan favorites by established performers and MC battles by unknowns to win the crowd’s approval.
A 2003 tour already has kicked off and will stop at New Orleans’ House of Blues on Saturday, Jan. 31. The new tour features artists who previously toured with the Lyricist Lounge, such as Boot Camp Clik, Killah Mike and DasEFX.
“This is our fourth lyricist lounge show, and we’ve had great success with it in the past,” said Laura Tennyson, House of Blues’ marketing manager. “It’s giving a lot of young hip-hop artists a chance to tour in front of many diverse audiences.”
Anthony Marshall and Danny Castro founded the Lyricist Lounge in 1991 in New York City. The shows became well-known to the local hip-hop community, and soon were being hosted by notable names in hip-hop culture.
With the growing success and support of major record labels, Marshall and Castro released an album letting people around the country in on what was happening at the time. They released “Lyricist Lounge Vol. 1” on Openmic/Rawkus Records in 1998, featuring KRS-ONE and Zack De La Rocha.
Soon after, the Lyricist Lounge tour began and became a cultural phenomenon, filling clubs in 11 cities from coast to coast. Marshall and Castro repeated the tour in 1999 to equal success and praise from the hip-hop community.
In 2000, MTV aired a season of the Lyricist Lounge Show, which gained support from the MCs in the business such as Snoop Dogg, Common and Goodie Mobb.
The hip-hop community supports the Lyricist Lounge tour because it provides training for artists who may be on the road for extended periods of time, according to Tennyson.
“Touring is a very challenging endeavor,” said Tennyson. “Lyricist Lounge gives them a chance to perform professionally and become ready for the road later in their career.”
The Lyricist Lounge has proven over the years that it is the premier catapult for upstarting MCs, while providing a mainstay for signed recording artists who want to keep their ear to the underground. It always has been a place where one can catch a glimpse of the current culture of hip-hop. Saturday night’s show should be no different.