Theater hosts MC battle

Local hip-hop acts will battle and perform at at the MidCest Winterfest Hip-Hop Showcase at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre. \nThe show will exhibit talent from Bloomington and around Indiana. \n"The show is for a bunch of locals, in order to build a resume," promoter Geremy George said. "We created something with a bunch of people and just kept running with it."\nOne of those local groups is called "city council." \n"The name came (because we're) representing Bloomington," city council member Shane Carter said. "It's time somebody represented Bloomington."\nCity council joins featured acts Mike Lee, Desperado, Carma & Mr. Vigilant, Kaution Klick and Fifth Element in representing the local hip-hop scene.\nThe B-town Showdown MC Battle will open the show.\n"It's going to let the rest of the locals come out," George said.\nThe artists are excited to have local artists showcased.\n"People will get to hear hip-hop they can relate to," Carter said. "There's something that anyone and everyone can relate to -- small town, college town, big city life."\nDennis Wilson of Kaution Klick is excited for college students and locals to be able to come out and support local music.\n"People can actually come out and enjoy a change of setting," he said. "Local artists hold the same talent (as people on the radio do)."\nCarter said he agrees. He hopes for a large turnout Saturday night.\n"Everybody should check it out," he said. "I was really excited because it features nothing but local artists. People get to hear some hometowns making music that's just as good as the stuff you hear on the radio … this is homegrown music."\nTickets to the MidCest Winterfest Hip-Hop Showcase are $12 and can be purchased in advance at the Sunrise Box Office at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24. \n-- Contact staff writer Jenny Kobiela at jkobiela@indiana.edu.