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Local rapper Fountaine (originally from Northeast Portland) performing at My People’s Market.
Credit: Aaron Lee
Brush up on the city’s best hip-hop artists, showcases, shops and news outlets.
5 min read
Jenni Moore
Jenni is an Alaska-born, Oregon-raised writer living in Portland. Read More
You may have seen Aminé on Jimmy Fallon or listened to the new album from Dodgr. But how much do you really know about Rose City hip-hop? Dive into the past, present and future of the Portland hip-hop scene with our expert guide to its best performers, stores and more.
History of Hip-Hop in Portland
It would be irresponsible to discuss the recent history of hip-hop music in Portland without touching on the discrimination and gentrification the scene has endured. Artists, fans, journalists and promoters — especially those from the old school — have experienced a slew of club and venue closures. This has made it even harder for hip-hop to exist in this historically less-than-diverse city. Crown Room, Harlem, Someday Lounge and Beauty Bar all shuttered in the last few years.
The most infamous closure, perhaps, was that of the beloved jazz venue The Blue Monk in 2014. The closure followed a highly publicized example of local law enforcement targeting hip-hop and rap shows in Portland. A 2014 show featuring Luck One (now HANiF), Mikey Vegaz and battle rap champion Illmaculate was cut short by the arrival of more than a dozen police and gang enforcement officers.
I will not perform in this city as long as the blatant targeting of Black culture and minorities congregating is acceptable common practice
Illmaculate
Police blocked off the street and limited access to the event, claiming there was overcrowding in the basement. Illmaculate, the show’s headliner, left the venue in protest before beginning his set. “I will not perform in this city as long as the blatant targeting of Black culture and minorities congregating is acceptable common practice,” he tweeted. The Blue Monk closed a few weeks later.
Today, Portland’s hip-hop scene is thriving and seems to have shaken off much of its negative reputation with public officials. In 2015, then-mayor Charlie Hales even designated October 15 as “Portland Hip-hop Day” — a gesture meant to signify inclusion for the community.
Showcases
In recent years, several regular hip-hop showcases have blossomed around town. Here are a few to check out:
Artists
Portland hip-hop veterans like Vursatyl (of Lifesavas), Libretto, HANiF and Cool Nutz can occasionally still be seen on the mic around town. Meanwhile, a crop of promising new talent is building on what the old school started. These new performers are using social media tools to catapult their scene to the next level. Hip-hop leaders Mic Capes, Glenn Waco and Rasheed Jamal comprise the Resistance crew. The group is celebrated for its socially conscious lyricism, impressive rap skills, community building and stellar crowd control.
Credit: Tojo Andrianarivo
Aminé and his viral single “Caroline” took Portland to the national stage in November 2016. Landing a post-election spot on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, he brought along established Portland neo-soul singer Blossom and acclaimed rapper Dodgr as backup. Other local stars include Wynne, Karma Rivera and Fritzwa. Portland is also home to eclectic artists like “St. Johns Scholar” Vinnie Dewayne, anime-obsessed Fountaine and the dynamic Myke Bogan.
Credit: Tojo Andrianariva
Shops
In addition to checking out these artists and shows, visitors can shop at local stores vital to Portland’s hip-hop culture. These shops support local artists, host events and are First Thursday destinations for hip-hop-inspired art, music and designs. In Northwest Portland’s Old Town neighborhood, shoppers can find products made by local artists and designers at Black-owned Deadstock Coffee — which offers an alternative to typical First Thursday exhibitions.
Credit: Ashley Anderson
Portland Hip-Hop Media
Keep up with local events and rising stars by following WOHM, which has become the city’s premiere online hip-hop lifestyle publication. The 503tv Blog has been showcasing Portland hip-hop culture for over a decade. Vortex is also a great (and free) print magazine offering insight and interviews with the scene’s most impactful players.
Local label and collective EYRST hosts high-quality events and supports some of Portland’s most talented artists and producers. There are also plenty of audio shows worth tuning into. Check out XRAY FM’s Welcome to the Neighborhood with DJ Klyph and the Crate Diggers podcast, hosted by DJ Verbz.
Additionally, Portland publications like Willamette Week and Portland Monthly have increased coverage of local hip-hop artists and events in their regular reporting.
Credit: Biketown
Portland Hip-Hop Today
With the closure of local venues, hip-hop music and events have moved to unexpected locations, like dive bars. Amid this atmosphere of change, some Portland artists are on the brink of making a nationwide splash, and the community can feel it. It’s a new era where creatives in Portland hip-hop are making headlines and gaining new fans across the country. One thing’s for certain: with this many options, it’s an exciting and busy time to be a live hip-hop fan in Portland.
Friday, Feb. 2, 2024
BabyTron
Alberta Rose Theatre
$29 – $179
Michigan rapper BabyTron stands out for applying his lyrical wit and clever punchlines to uncommon instrumentals. After his 2019 track “Jesus Shuttlesworth” went viral on the strength of BabyTron’s comical flow over a somewhat throwback synth pop backdrop, he became known for his ability to rap over any outlandish beat, which he exhibited on releases…
Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024
Night Lovell
Roseland Theater
$25
Canadian rapper/producer Night Lovell embraced a dark and mysterious style from the start, working with tense beats and haunting vocal samples. His lyrics skewed toward darkness and pain on much of his work, resulting in a viral hit with his first single and huge fanfare for his brooding full-length releases like 2016’s Red Teenage Melody….
Friday, Feb. 9, 2024
Too $hort
Roseland Theater
$40 – $55
Too $hort was among the first West Coast rap stars, recording three albums on his own before he made his major-label debut in 1988 with the RIAA-certified gold Born to Mack. Anticipating much of the later gangsta phenomenon, he restricted his lyrical themes to explicit tales of sexual prowess and street life, with the occasional…
Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024
Ronnie Wright and Alonzo Chadwick
Alberta Abbey
$25 – $50
Elevate Unity hosts two of Portland’s most sought-after, influential and talented vocalists for a fun and romantic Valentine’s evening with great food and music, a sponsored wine bar, theme cocktails, a Kalua Spanish coffee bar and more… These incredible singer-songwriters and community leaders join forces for a night of unparalleled next-level Neo Soul music. Ronnie…
Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024
Bryce Vine
Roseland Theater
$39.50 – $139.50
Bryce Vine is a rapper and singer who blends pop, rap, and alternative rock influences, delivering witty, thoughtful lyrics and catchy hooks. His rhyming style is at once relaxed and quick-witted, full of dry wit and casual observations on relationships (his 2018 breakthrough hit “Drew Barrymore”) and the world around him (2014’s “Sour Patch Kids,”…
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024
Mahalia
Roseland Theater
$25 – $125
Mahalia simultaneously builds on the legacies of the British soul and American neo-soul with finely rendered material full of deeply introspective and relatable insights. The singer/songwriter made her recorded debut in her early teens, by then, she had already attracted major-label interest. She launched her career with the Asylum label, where she issued the albums…
Feb. 23–25, 2024
Rose City Blues
Alberta Rose Theatre
$20 – $200
Portland Blues and Jazz Dance Society proudly presents Rose City Blues 2024, honoring Black History through Dance. Headlining Instructors: Damon and Kelsy Stone- Atlanta, GeorgiaRachel Stirling- Portland, OregonMichael Galen- Portland, OregonKaren Maria Capo- Portland, OregonLila Faria- Seattle, WashingtonLive Music from: Ms. VeeTevis Hodge JrEric SorensenCurtis Salgado and Alan HagarMelanie OwenMore Live Music will be coming…
Friday, Feb. 23, 2024
J Boog
Roseland Theater
$32 – $50
A singer who fuses reggae with R&B, hip-hop, and rock, J Boog is the stage name of Jerry Afemata, who was born in Long Beach, California but primarily raised in Compton. Of Samoan ancestry (his father was a tribal chief in his neighborhood), Boog’s first influence was his sister, who sang and played piano. When…
Friday, Feb. 23, 2024
Pink Sweat$
Wonder Ballroom
$30 – $155
Pink Sweat$ is an artist/songwriter/producer from Philadelphia, PA. Pink’s music is rooted in R&B and Soul, stripping back the typical genre-specific production to showcase melodic intricacy and lyrical prowess. He began making music at the age of 19 as a demo vocalist, and soon after found himself working at the legendary Sigma Sounds Studios where…
Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024
Little Stranger / DENM
Revolution Hall
$25
Born and raised in Philly and crash-landed in Charleston, Kevin and John Shields are breaking into previously uncharted waters with their quirky indie hip-hop group, Little Stranger. Between John’s melodic singer-songwriter magnetism, Kevin’s in-your-face delivery, and an overall undeniable groove, this duo is sure to get any audience up and moving. Stylistically reminiscent of Gorillaz…
Monday, Feb. 26, 2024
Damian + Stephen Marley
Roseland Theater
$49.50 – $59.50
Stephen Marley is reggae royalty, both as the second son of Bob and Rita Marley and with a voice of his own that continues the rootsy songwriting power of his bloodline. He played a somewhat behind-the-scenes role in music for many years, acting as a part of the Melody Makers and as a producer for…
Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024
Playboi Carti
Moda Center
Cost Varies
Atlanta rapper Playboi Carti debuted with a repetitive and catchy flow like contemporaries Lil Uzi Vert and Young Thug, gaining recognition in the mid-2010s as an affiliate of A$AP Mob. A steady succession of viral singles helped Carti’s first proper album, 2018’s Die Lit, debut at number three on the Billboard charts, and he moved…
Saturday, Mar. 9, 2024
Collie Buddz With Kash’d Out and DMP
Wonder Ballroom
$25
Colin Patrick Harper hails from the tiny island of Bermuda. In the music industry, he is known as the reggae artist Collie Buddz. Buddz was born on August 21, 1984 in New Orleans, Louisiana. After graduating from high school, he attended Full Sail University in Winter Park, FL, where he decided to study studio engineering….
Monday, Mar. 11, 2024
Lil Tecca
Roseland Theater
$35 – $124.50
After getting into rap at age nine and trading freestyle insults with friends while playing Xbox, Queens rapper Lil Tecca developed an Auto-Tuned flow that looked to Chief Keef as a primary influence. He released a few tracks online in 2018 and broke through to a wider audience with “Did It Again” and the standout…
Friday, Apr. 12, 2024
Sampha
McMenamins Crystal Ballroom
$35 – $49.50
Sampha’s artful and emotive mix of R&B, pop, and electronic music isn’t easily categorizable, and is further distinguished by a heartfelt vocal style that tends to sound as if it’s on the brink of choking back tears. The artist established himself as a valued remixer and studio collaborator sought by emergent underground talents and mainstream…
Biamp Portland Jazz Festival
The Portland Jazz Festival returns every February with a stellar series of concerts and events celebrating Black History Month.
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