When El Paso based hip-hop is talked about, two thoughts often float through people’s heads: the first is of hardcore cholos trying to be like Kid Frost circa 1990 and the other is usually “what hip-hop?”
I would have thought the same but my mind was changed, by of all people, my neighbor. I was invited to a hip-hop show downtown at the Soho Lounge, where I watched several local acts change my opinion on ‘local acts.’
The show consisted of performances by several local rappers, RX the Pharmtech, Rebel Agnostic, a solo set by Aker Metatron with The Wasteland Travelers rounding up the show.
As the sound technician ran busily around the stage, the DJ scratched and the rappers rapped – I was learning. I learned that El Paso hip-hop is gem, albeit a hidden one in the rough, but a gem nonetheless.
While most of hip-hop is dedicated to shiny chains and hoes, subjects covered this night were diverse, including topics like depression, existentialism, mushroom trips, and even tributes to the late Hunter S. Thomson and Ol’ Dirty Bastard.
I also learned that night that there is hope. Even though many still have the opinion that local hip-hop is still high tube socks and Cortes shoes, I know there is a new horizon for the Sun city.
By Mark Coca
