THESKINI.COM

March 2005

Set The Smith: The Example Of Minneapolis

by Kable Reid

This issue I’m going to talk to you about an up and coming artist here in the Twin Cities who’s name is Set The Smith (aka Upset). But in order to give an idea of who Set The Smith is, one needs to understand the bio of Hiphop and it's history here in Minneapolis, as the two are intertwined.

Quick History- In 1979 "Rappers Delight" by the Sugar Hill Gang, made its way across the country opening the floodgates of Hiphop music and culture to the masses. The Twin Cities were no exception. Then, in the early 80's, families moved to Minneapolis from bigger cities, cities where Hiphop Culture thrived and even originated such as New York, Connecticut, Chicago, and California. With them came authentic cultural examples that were non-existent in Minnesota. These two factors set the scene for what created a genesis of underground movement in Minneapolis that would be in full force by the early-mid 80's.

Upset was born in 1979, which was one of the first generations to not know a life before Hiphop music and culture. His older brother, Gage, was immersed in Hiphop’s underground and in turn heavily influenced Set The Smith at a very early age. It turns out that Upset’s father had a personal hand in creating the scene here in Minneapolis at the suggestion of Upset’s older brother Gage. Their father formed one of city's first Rap Groups - The I.R.M (Immortal Rap Masters) Crew and put them on his own label, "Chill Records". They put out some of Minnesota's first full scale Hiphop events in local venues that had never before seen such shows including places such as First Avenue. All of this at a time when the area was only being recognized for the work of Prince, The Time, Hüsker Dü, and the Suburb's in addition to a little song called "Funky Town" by Steven Greenberg... just to name a few.

I.R.M was recognized throughout the Twin Cities as being among the most talented in rhyming, beat boxing, and Dee-Jaying. Some from I.R.M and other Hiphop pioneers who heavily influenced Upset have family ties and are visible today such as; Hiphop scholar B. Fresh who was the beat boxer for the I.R.M Crew (a.k.a Truth Maze of Micronauts), and of solo fame Mike Mack from Twin Cities Hiphop and R&B Radio Station B96 (also from I.R.M), Derek" Kid Delight" Stevens also from B96, Smoke D, Dan Speak and Disco T from pioneer Hiphop and R&B Twin Cities radio station 89.9 KMOJ.

Naturally, Upset was often hanging around IRM in and outside of the studio showing an interest and talent for Hiphop music at age 5 and began rhyming two years later at age 7. His brother and Brent Sayers (of Rhyme Sayers Entertainment) formed a crew called "Brigade" which merged with another called "Genesis". He and the others in Genesis/ Brigade played the artists who are referred to as those who brought in Hiphop’s "Renaissance" or "Rebirth", which happened in the very late 80's thru the mid to late 90's.

Gage and Brent did shows for hundreds of kids around Minneapolis. It was during a few of these shows that a young Set The Smith cut his teeth, grabbing the mic, battling older cats and performing on stage. Ever since he free-styled in front of 300 people at the age of 13 in a downtown nightclub called the Rogue, he has demonstrated over and over that he can hold any audience captive from the moment he steps up to a mic, to the moment he drops it without the need of anyone ad-libbing in the background.

Now, fast-forward to today, through years of blood, sweat, and tears and you have the return of that 100% Emcee. Set The Smith… a rhyme virtuoso who, from early childhood has been unintentionally spoon-fed all the best examples of what it means to be a rhymer and performer. Set The Smith has classic style that you can hear for yourself on his debut album titled “The Example: Part One”. So if you get a chance…. go check him out or get his new album and see what you think. I found some good tunes along they way and maybe you will too!

...Now That's Theskini!::permalink

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