St. Paul’s Underground Hip-Hop Scene
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The Ultimate Guide on St. Paul’s Underground Hip-Hop Scene
When you think of hip-hop hubs in the United States, your mind might jump to New York, Atlanta, or Los Angeles. But nestled quietly in the Twin Cities is a movement bubbling with raw energy, lyrical precision, and grassroots authenticity: St. Paul’s underground hip-hop scene. While its sister city Minneapolis often steals the limelight, especially with legends like Prince emerging from its streets, St. Paul holds its own as a cradle of independent artistry and unapologetic expression.
In this ultimate guide, we’ll take you on a journey through St. Paul’s underground hip-hop world—its origins, key players, venues, community impact, and what the future holds for this hidden gem in the Midwest.
The Origins: A Twin Cities Tale with a St. Paul Twist
The roots of underground hip-hop in St. Paul stretch back to the late 1980s and early '90s, as the national hip-hop wave hit the Midwest. Influenced by conscious rap from the East Coast and funk-heavy West Coast sounds, local artists began carving out their own narrative.
St. Paul was the quieter of the Twin Cities, often overshadowed by Minneapolis’ louder entertainment scene. But that very underdog status became a source of pride and motivation. Here, hip-hop was less about the spotlight and more about the message. Freestyle cyphers in rec centers, basement studios, and high school lunchrooms laid the foundation for what would become a resilient underground ecosystem.
Rhymesayers and Beyond: The Scene Expands
You can’t talk about Twin Cities hip-hop without mentioning Rhymesayers Entertainment, the independent label that launched acts like Atmosphere, Brother Ali, and Eyedea. While Rhymesayers is based in Minneapolis, many of its artists and collaborators have deep ties to St. Paul.
In the early 2000s, as Rhymesayers gained national attention, local artists in St. Paul were emboldened to develop their own voice outside mainstream expectations. Instead of chasing radio play, they focused on intricate storytelling, social critique, and experimental beats. The spirit of DIY was alive and well—pressing CDs by hand, creating zines, and organizing shows in coffee shops and community centers.
Key Artists from the Underground
St. Paul’s underground hip-hop isn’t defined by a single sound or style. It’s a mosaic of voices that reflect the city’s diversity—culturally, economically, and artistically. Here are a few key figures and collectives that have helped shape the scene:
1. Tufawon
A proud Dakota and Boricua artist, Tufawon blends activism with art. His music explores Indigenous identity, environmental justice, and self-healing—all while delivering smooth, hard-hitting flows. He's one of the artists bridging ancestral heritage with modern beats in powerful, thought-provoking ways.
2. Dwynell Roland
Though often billed as a Twin Cities act, Roland’s storytelling roots run deep in St. Paul. His dynamic range—one moment vulnerable, the next ferocious—mirrors the complexities of inner-city life and personal growth. His live performances are especially electric.
3. ZULUZULUU (Now Astralblak)
An Afro-futuristic collective that defies genre boundaries, ZULUZULUU brings a blend of soul, hip-hop, and electronic elements to the stage. Their work addresses themes like Black liberation and cosmic identity. Members of the group have deep roots in St. Paul and often rep their city in interviews and tracks.
4. The Lioness
A fierce lyricist and community voice, The Lioness brings both heat and heart. Though her rise has taken her throughout the Midwest, her grassroots beginnings in St. Paul’s hip-hop circles still influence her work. She's especially notable for her collaborations and mentorship of younger artists.
Venues That Built the Culture
A scene is only as strong as the stages that support it. In St. Paul, several venues and pop-up spaces have been instrumental in fostering underground talent.
Black Dog Café (now closed)
Before its doors shut, Black Dog Café was a hub for open mics, jazz, and experimental hip-hop nights. Its cozy, intimate atmosphere made it a favorite for poets and emcees alike.
Amsterdam Bar and Hall
Located in downtown St. Paul, this venue has hosted everything from indie hip-hop showcases to beat battles. Its flexible space and great sound system make it a go-to for mid-sized underground shows.
The Dubliner Pub
Don’t let the name fool you—this Irish pub has welcomed hip-hop cyphers and DJs for years. It's become a cultural chameleon, adapting to the community’s creative needs.
Union Depot
More recently, public spaces like Union Depot have hosted hip-hop events during festivals, bridging the gap between urban art and mainstream attention.
The Role of Open Mics and Community Cyphers
One of the defining traits of St. Paul’s underground hip-hop scene is its accessibility. You don’t need a major label deal or massive Instagram following to make waves here—you need heart, bars, and the willingness to show up.
Open mic nights, like those once held at Golden Thyme Coffee & Café, gave many artists their first shot at performing. These spaces offered more than just a mic—they offered mentorship, constructive feedback, and a sense of belonging.
Freestyle Fridays, community park jams, and poetry slams provided additional platforms for artists to sharpen their skills and connect with others. Often, these events doubled as food drives, youth outreach programs, or fundraisers—proving that in St. Paul, hip-hop is activism.
Community Organizations Making an Impact
Several local organizations have played a critical role in sustaining the hip-hop culture in St. Paul:
Hope Community
Based nearby but heavily involved with St. Paul youth, Hope Community hosts workshops in beat-making, spoken word, and visual arts. They’re focused on developing the next generation of creatives through a lens of racial equity and social awareness.
Springboard for the Arts
This nonprofit connects artists with resources and support. They've backed numerous hip-hop-related projects, residencies, and collaborative performances across St. Paul.
Walker West Music Academy
Though traditionally more focused on jazz and classical music, Walker West has begun incorporating hip-hop production and music theory into its programming, recognizing its power to engage youth.
Sound and Style: What Sets St. Paul Apart
St. Paul hip-hop doesn't chase trends—it sets its own pace. The sound here is lyrically rich, socially conscious, and often infused with jazz, soul, or experimental loops. Artists are less concerned with “viral” hits and more focused on authenticity and connection.
There’s also a visual aesthetic that pairs with the sound—hand-drawn album covers, graffiti-inspired logos, and minimalist fashion that nods to both streetwear and ancestral roots.
What sets the scene apart most is its tight-knit nature. St. Paul artists support one another, feature each other on tracks, and build bridges rather than walls. Collaboration is king.
Challenges Facing the Scene
Like many underground movements, St. Paul’s hip-hop community faces its share of hurdles:
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Limited venues: As gentrification spreads, many small, artist-friendly venues have shut down or been priced out.
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Lack of mainstream media attention: The scene often flies under the radar, even within Minnesota, making it harder for local talent to gain broader exposure.
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Funding and support: While organizations like Springboard and local grants help, many artists still juggle multiple jobs just to fund their music.
Yet these challenges only serve to underscore the resilience of the community. In true underground fashion, St. Paul’s hip-hop scene adapts, innovates, and perseveres.
Women and Nonbinary Voices in the Forefront
One of the most exciting shifts in recent years is the increased visibility of women and nonbinary artists. The scene has moved far beyond the macho stereotypes often associated with hip-hop.
Artists like NUR-D, Maria Isa, and Lady Midnight—though not all born in St. Paul—have performed regularly in the city and helped reshape its cultural tone. Their work speaks to identity, mental health, gender, and resilience in ways that elevate the art form beyond braggadocio.
Workshops specifically for young women of color, such as those run by Yo Mama’s House and other community collectives, provide safe spaces to learn production, lyrical writing, and entrepreneurship.
The Digital Underground: St. Paul on the Web
Even as physical venues fluctuate, the digital space has provided a new arena for St. Paul artists to flourish. Platforms like Bandcamp, Audiomack, and SoundCloud have become hotbeds for discovering local gems.
Instagram Live freestyles, YouTube vlogs, and TikTok remixes are giving artists a global reach from their living rooms. Still, the emphasis remains on connection over clout.
Local podcasts like The Current’s “The Message” or KFAI’s hip-hop features continue to spotlight rising stars and community narratives. Meanwhile, curated playlists like “MN Hip-Hop Daily” are helping fans stay tapped into the freshest drops.
Where to Discover St. Paul Hip-Hop Today
Want to dive in and hear what St. Paul’s underground hip-hop is all about? Here are a few ways to start:
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Follow Twin Cities hip-hop collectives on Instagram and YouTube
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Check out Bandcamp pages of local artists
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Attend local showcases and open mics (many are listed on Facebook or Eventbrite)
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Support artists directly through merch, digital downloads, and Patreon pages
Even just streaming a track or sharing a song can make a difference for independent artists.
The Future of St. Paul Hip-Hop
Looking ahead, the future of St. Paul’s underground hip-hop is bright, bold, and boundary-breaking.
With more cross-genre collaborations, digital distribution, and mentorship pipelines than ever before, young emcees are entering the scene with both vision and tools. Community-first initiatives are also expanding—ensuring that as the art grows, it does so inclusively and equitably.
There’s talk of a new arts district in St. Paul that will center Black and Brown creatives. Plans are underway for more all-ages venues, city-funded public art, and music festivals that don’t just include hip-hop as an afterthought—but celebrate it as a core cultural force.
Final Thoughts: Everything You Want to Know About the Hip-Hop Scene in St Paul
St. Paul’s underground hip-hop scene is more than music—it’s a movement. It’s where grit meets grace, where storytelling meets soundscape, and where community trumps celebrity.
Whether you’re a die-hard hip-hop head or a curious newcomer, one thing is clear: the streets of St. Paul are alive with rhythm, resistance, and renaissance. You just have to know where to listen.
So the next time you hear a beat echoing from an alley, a bar basement, or a street festival in the Twin Cities, don’t assume it’s Minneapolis. It might just be St. Paul—quietly but powerfully shaping the future of hip-hop.
Lateef Warnick is the founder of Onassis Krown. He currently serves as a Senior Healthcare Consultant in the Jacksonville FL area and is a Certified Life Coach, Marriage Counselor, Keynote Speaker and Author of "Know Thyself," "The Golden Egg" and "Wear Your Krown." He is also a former Naval Officer, Licensed Financial Advisor, Insurance Agent, Realtor, Serial Entrepreneur and musical artist A.L.I.A.S.
- Tags: St Paul Hip-Hop
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