This guy seems to be somewhat of a renaissance man. Growing up in Oakland, CA, the Grouch was on the up n’ up, emerging in the Bay City underground scene in the 90s and covering new ground with his super MC skillz. He is a member of the Living Legend crew and has collaborated with all kinds of acts. Finding himself frequenting Los Angeles as his career progressed, he made it his second home and has gained a hometown love rivaling Oakland. Check out this feature for not one, but two stomping grounds locations covered. And there’s a bonus! Listen to this track from his new solo album, Show You the World, aptly titled “The Bay to LA” here. (If you want to download it, just right-click and select “download linked file.)
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Hailing from the Dirty D (aka Dayton, OH), Ruckus Roboticus is a mastermind at fusing many genres of music into one piece of sheer magic. Not only is he experienced in remixing for the stars (heard that Bloc Party remix?), he has been on stages with mounds of notorious DJs. Not to mention he can be heard on Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel. He must be busy. His new solo album, “Playing with Scratches,” was released in 2007 and portrays a “semi-autobiographical” story. Read on for why he loves the city he grew up in.
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David Sheldon, (otherwise known as “Mac Lethal”) stays true to his native land of Kansas City, MO. Living there since he was a young boy, he never wants to leave. Gaining notoriety through his sick freestyle jams, he has been able to produce hip-hop albums, DJ his own “Killer City” radio show, and tour with nationally known acts such as Atmosphere, Sage Francis, and P.O.S. His new album, titled 11:11, was released in October of 2007. Discover Mac Lethal’s true love and affection for his hometown below.
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Daniel Kuypers, aka “Copperpot,” is something of a renaissance man. Not only did he spend his younger years on a transglobal journey, but he returned to his hometown of Chicago where he built an empire of sorts through his record label/studio, EV Productions. His latest full-length, titled “WYLA?” includes many notable lyricists and musicians including Masta Ace, Prince Po, and Psalm One to create a serious masterpiece. Learn about his take on the Windy City (aka Haterville) in our Stomping Grounds exclusive below.
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JFK is one half of the two-man show known as Grayskul. The duo moved to Seattle over a decade ago in pursuit of a hip-hop stardom and so far it seems to have panned out pretty nicely. On their latest release, Bloody Radio, the pair are joined by Aesop Rock, Atmosphere and Cage as well as other rainy coast reps, Sapient and Bean One. Here, we find out part of what drew JFK to Seattle for this Stomping Grounds exclusive.
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