Hip Hop, Poetry, Art, Music, Flaming Cars, and Cheesecake

I can't make my life up. It's an adventure. In all the ways.

Last week—or nah, must’ve been two weeks ago—I went to the Loft / Open Book (one of my favorite places to hang out in Minneapolis, because books! because art! because book art! because writing!) for the Truartspeaks 50th anniversary Hip Hop celebration. And it was 🔥. I met some of the luminaries of the Twin Cities Hip Hop scene, the OGs who’ve been around since before I secretly fell in love with my first (of a lifetime’s worth) rap song. Myc Dazzle was there doing some live painting. Herb Johnson III (aka JDot Tight Eyez), DJ Neekasodope, Tish Jones (poet extraordinaire), St. Paul Slim, and way too many more to name. Also some dancing, later, featuring Yoni Light and Cecil “Virgo” Neal.

Scenes from 50th Anniversary Hip Hop Celebration

There was an open mic — as I posted previously — at Open Book last week. The Heartbroken Open Mic, and it was heartbreaking, and it was also healing. I read some poems — four, if I remember correctly — and listened to some poems, and a couple songs. And met some new people. And we all sang a song toge…