Kansas City's long-suffering rap scene blossomed this summer, largely thanks to the unifying work of the Oro Negro collective. Every Wednesday night at either Danny's Big Easy or Californos, large gatherings formed to hear dozens of DJs spin records and MCs pass the open mic. The enormity of the barriers these crowds tore down -- between races, genders, belief systems, economics and geography -- hints at what this divided city could be if it shared the spirit of community at the heart of hip-hop.
