![]() Organized by former rapper and We Out Here Magazine (WOHM) editor Mac Smiff, amateur hip-hop showcase The Thesis has taken place every first Thursday of the month at Kelly’s Olympian since 2014.In recent years, several regular hip-hop showcases have blossomed around town. 15 as “ Portland Hip-hop Day” - a gesture meant to signify inclusion for the community. In 2015, then-mayor Charlie Hales even designated Oct. Today, Portland’s hip-hop scene is thriving and seems to have shaken off much of its negative reputation with public officials. “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. Illmaculate, the show’s headliner, left the venue in protest before beginning his set. Police blocked off the street and limited access to the event, claiming there was overcrowding in the basement. 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. The closure followed a highly publicized example of local law enforcement targeting hip-hop and rap shows in Portland. The most infamous closure, perhaps, was that of beloved jazz venue Blue Monk in 2014. Crown Room, Harlem, Someday Lounge and Beauty Bar all shuttered in the last few years. This has made it even harder for hip-hop to exist in this historically less-than-diverse city. Artists, fans, journalists and promoters - especially those from the old school - have experienced a slew of club and venue closures. It would be irresponsible to discuss the recent history of hip-hop in Portland without touching on the discrimination and gentrification the scene has endured. 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. You may have seen Aminé on Jimmy Fallon or listened to the new album from Dodgr. Jenni is an Alaska-born, Oregon-raised writer living in Portland.
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