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Defining hip-hop track/album/group: The movie Juice: "All the DJing and the big battle at the end — the Mixmaster Massacre, I think. I was hooked after that for sure!"
DJ Sku
Sound: Fresh-cut electronic house and hip-hop
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 1997
What have you done for us lately? Spins Tuesdays at Karma; working on next mixtape for Mac Lethal's label, Black Clover Records.
Defining hip-hop track/album/group: He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
Miles Bonny
Sound: Soulful-sounding love
Origin: Lawrence, 2000
What have you done for us lately? Runs a record label (INnatesounds), DJs all the time and plans on singing more often around KC; touring Europe in August to sing, DJ and play trumpet.
Defining hip-hop track/album/group: "I just love music and grew up around hip-hop."
Beatbroker
Sound: Soul, funk and R&B-infused hip-hop
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 1996
What have you done for us lately? Resident DJ at the Dark Horse Tavern and Firefly Lounge; rotates between DJ gigs here and in Denver, St. Louis and other cities; has overseen Hip-Hop & Hot Wings for several years; plans to release instrumental album, Broker Than You, in the next four to six months.
Defining hip-hop track/album/group: He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
Barbaric Merits
Sound: A blend of old-school and classic hip-hop that makes bass-blastin' beats
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2005
What have you done for us lately? Released debut album, New Mutations; playing around town, planning a beat battle, scoring an indie horror film.
Defining hip-hop track/album/group: Beastie Boys (DJ DubLow 7), Souls of Mischief (DJ Mythik)
INDIE ROCK
The Life and Times
Sound: "Melodically lush, rhythmically involved, lyrically metaphoric"
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2003
What have you done for us lately? Self-recorded and released Tragic Boogie LP (Arena Rock Records); released an hourlong documentary, Life Is Pleasure, of 2006 Japan tour; toured the United States in the spring and summer.
Desert-island indie-rock disc: The Soft Bulletin by the Flaming Lips — Allen Epley, singer and guitarist
The Appleseed Cast
Sound: Atmospheric rock music with experimental nuances and thundering drums
Origin: Lawrence, 1997
What have you done for us lately? Released Sagarmatha LP in February; brought in new members John Momberg and Nate Whitman.
Desert-island indie-rock disc: Dear You by Jawbreaker
Roman Numerals
Sound: Postpunk-inspired dance rock
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri, 2004
What have you done for us lately? Switched drummers twice; contributed a song to a benefit CD for the Prids; remixed West Indian Girl; began writing and recording material for a fall release via Topspin Media.
Desert-island indie-rock disc: This Heat by This Heat
Be/Non
Sound: Experimental, psychedelic and prog-rockulent
Origin: Lawrence, 1996
What have you done for us lately? Released A Mountain of Yeses LP on vinyl in May 2009; began production on a feature film; embarked on some regional tours and booked a CMJ showcase for the fall.
Desert-island indie-rock disc: Anything by Tom Zé
Boo and Boo Too
Sound: Headphone bliss-out for teenage gremlins
Origin: A chilly beach in Lawrence, 2005
What have you done for us lately? Released No Tempo LP in the fall of 2008; undertook two coast-to-coast U.S. tours; prepped a split 7-inch with Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk on new Lawrence label, Lovely Sea Records.
Desert-island indie-rock disc: "We'd probably just listen to 'Unchained Melody,' 'I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)' and those Harry Belafonte songs from Beetlejuice on infinite repeat." — Barrett Emke, singer and guitarist
Ad Astra Per Aspera
Sound: "The sound of confusion and celebration"
