Hip-hop artist wants Midwest rap scene to get recognized

Hip-hop music doesn't exactly grow in cornfields. \nConsequently, the entire Midwest has picked up a reputation for its lack of successful hip-hop artists. As Vibe magazine Editor Alan Light puts it in his new book on the history of hip-hop: "The last place anybody expected to hear rap music blowing up was the Midwest."\nBut it seems as though Bloomington might be on the brink of becoming home to an oasis in the Midwest hip-hop desert. \nPatrick Alexander, more commonly known as IIndHand, is a new hip-hop artist who is more concerned with helping other talented Hoosiers than making a name for himself. He hopes to act as a ringleader for those in the Midwest seeking decent recognition in the nation's music industry.\n"It's about recognition -- exposing the music," Alexander explained. "At times, the music industry can be real bogus, but Indiana has a tremendous amount of talent. I want to be the person who opens the door."\nMany criticize the Midwest for lacking its own distinctive hip-hop flavor, but Alexander says the hip-hop sound of the Midwest has become a melting pot of the nation's various styles.\n"Midwest rap is a combination of styles from all over the United States: East Coast, Southern, West Coast," Alexander said. "It makes a whole new style. It's from a class of its own."\nAlexander was also quick to point out that though the Midwest might not be home to the largest number of hip-hop artists, the few artists it has tend to be successful.\n"People overlook that every artist from the Midwest is solid," Alexander said. "They all go platinum or multi-platinum. Midwest hip-hop never had its time. It's under-recognized."\nActs such as Cleveland's Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, St. Louis' Nelly and Detroit's Eminem all represent the Midwest as some of the music industry's most famed hip-hop artists, supporting Alexander's claims.\nIndiana, too, is starting to pick up on the region's hip-hop scene.\nIn 2005, Indianapolis hip-hop artist Che Smith, known as Rhymefest, earned a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song after his efforts in collaboration with Chicago rapper Kanye West for the song "Jesus Walks" on West's album The College Dropout.\nIn Bloomington, hip-hop seems to be on the rise. Bret Hayden has worked at Tracks music store downtown for 13 years and helps promote Bloomington's local hip-hop artists. The store often sells new artists' albums for a small cost simply to get the word out. Tracks keeps the profits, but the artists keep the recognition, Hayden said.\n"(The local scene) is starting to expand a lot," Hayden said. "There's a lot more (music) this year than in the past."\nMore artists is exactly what Alexander wants. His so-called hip-hop movement is geared toward networking with those in and around Bloomington to promote rap as a unified genre, not a competition between artists.\n"Bloomington needs to open their eyes," Alexander said. "We're exposing rap artists in Bloomington. We want to start something real big for anybody. ... It's up to the club owners and executives."\nNightclubs such as Second Story and the Bluebird host hip-hop showcases for local artists to perform and promote their music. At the University level, IU Hip Hop Congress is one of nearly 30 chapters of the nation-wide organization that "uses hip-hop culture to inspire social and civic action and cultural creativity amongst young people," according to the national organization's Web site at www.hiphopcongress.com.\nLocal record labels also promote hip-hop artists. IIndHand recently signed with Bloomington-based New Sense Entertainment, and Oct. 31 marked the release of his new mix tape, "In Da Hood, Volume 1," a sampler of 25 original tracks.\nDespite the prevalence of local hip-hop outlets, Alexander and others say hip-hop in Bloomington, as in many nonurban areas, is still a victim of misconceptions that hurt its image. According to the IU Hip Hop Congress Web site, "because of its inner-city base, hip-hop is often identified erroneously as a forum for gangsters, drugs, misogyny and other negative images." This is the harsh reality and obstacle artists like Alexander and organizations like Hip Hop Congress constantly battle on the local scene.\n"Rap is not a negative form of music," Alexander said. "It's definitely more raw, but it's still a form of expression"