Raw Villa

Top 20 best Minnesota rappers: The complete list

Related:Cover Story: How Rhymesayers set up the Soundset FestivalTop 20 best Minnesota musicians: The complete listTop 20 best Minnesota songs: The complete listIn 2012, rap music is as definitive a part of Minnesota lore as the Mall of America -- or anything else Muja Messiah name-checks in "Leech ... More >>

Top 20 best Minnesota rappers: #20-11

Related:How Rhymesayers set up the Soundset FestivalTop 20 best Minnesota musicians: The complete listTop 20 best Minnesota songs: The complete listIn 2012, rap music is as definitive a part of Minnesota lore as the Mall of America -- or anything else Muja Messiah name-checks in "Leech Lake" or Slug ... More >>

Diddy Dirty Money with Lloyd and Tyga at Epic, 4/13/11

Photos by Erik Hess​Diddy Dirty Money with Lloyd and TygaApril 13, 2011Epic NightclubFor this write-up, I could have skated by making jokes about how Diddy changed his name three times during the show or whatever -- but I'm a journalist dammit, not Jay Leno.  I came to check out the Dirty Mon ... More >>

Picked to Click winners so far: 1991-2008

Muja Messiah lists his favorites

Picked to Click winners so far: 1991-2007

Who Is JonJon Scott?

Defining black music with a departing record impresario

Rhyme out of joint

Rising rap star Slug is a master at putting words in order. Now why won't his life fall into place?

Coup de Villa

Exuberant shows, offensive lyrics, multiple aliases. Meet Raw Villa, your new rulers.

Sound Check

Rap Up

Will 2000 be the year Minnesota hip hop broke?

Scene Not Heard

Computer wizards leave their bedrooms, rappers reach the stage, and the Mason Jennings Band creates the bar buzz of the decade. In the ninth annual City Pages New Music Poll, 60 local music fans pick the bands that made the biggest noise.