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Jenni Moore
Jenni is an Alaska-born, Oregon-raised writer living in Portland. Read More
The Portland Hip-Hop Scene
Brush up on the city’s best hip-hop artists, showcases, shops and news outlets.
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:
- 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 2016, the late emcee StarChile started hosting the Mic Check emcee showcase. Now hosted by DJ Klyph, the event takes place at White Eagle every last Thursday and has garnered support and coverage from the acclaimed hip-hop platform Team Backpack.
- The semi-regular YGB (Young Gifted & Brown) dance party DJ’d by Lamar LeRoy is known for its positive vibes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hip-Hop Events
Check out Portland hip-hop at these upcoming concerts and events.
Young Fathers
Their recorded music can be dark, dense and ambiguous lyrics, but when you watch them live, that kinetic energy is unmistakable. Apparent, visceral and highly addictive. Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole and G. Hastings met as kids and set their bodies against the tide. From the beginning, they were obstinately not going to do what was…
6LACK
Dazed slow jams with forthright experiential lyrics are the primary mode of Atlanta-based contemporary R&B artist 6LACK (pronounced "black"). A model of perseverance, the singer/rapper and songwriter toiled for years before he struck a favorable deal with LVRN (Love Renaissance) and helped put the Interscope-affiliated label on the map. The Atlanta native achieved his breakthrough…
Tom the Mail Man
Tom the Mail Man is the alias of Sean Brown, a rapper and singer from Georgia who values his outlet — emotionally transparent, casually melodic, and primarily mellow hip-hop infused with contemporary R&B and emo-pop — as a form of therapy. He made considerable progress with his early single "Curse3dgirls" (2017) and has remained prolific…
YG & Tyga
Wielding a forceful and slightly raspy voice ideally suited for the prowling basslines that support many of his best-known tracks, YG achieved and sustained commercial success throughout the 2010s without ever being overtly pop. The "brazy" yet "bool" West Coast rapper first achieved Hot 100 status with the players' anthem "Toot It and Boot It"…
Armand Hammer
Armand Hammer, the groundbreaking NYC rap duo of ELUCID and billy woods, announces its eighth studio album, We Buy Diabetic Test Strips, out September 29 via Fat Possum Records. The duo’s new project arrives two and a half years after Haram, their labyrinthine collaboration with The Alchemist, and is introduced with their lead single "Trauma…
A Beat Happening
A Beat Happening is back for 2023 with a new home and new lineups. Join in at Lolo Pass PDX to celebrate Black History Month with a free, all-ages, inclusive lineup full of new folks, homies and ABH alumni, including Bryson Wallace (DJ set), Free Tillman (beats), Just Alfa (beats), Sir Nai (beats), Thoto_Leing (beats),…
Wu-Tang Clan and Nas
Hip Hop icons Wu-Tang Clan and Nas continue their legendary co-headlined NY State of Mind tour. The legendary group Wu-Tang Clan announced their collaborative worldwide 2023 N.Y. State of Mind Tour with rapper Nas on their official Instagram account on Monday. The tour will feature over 30 dates, with the first show kicking off in…
$uicideboy$
New Orleans rap duo $uicideboy$ rose from the dark corners of the underground, merging hip-hop with punk and occult aesthetic fit for graveyards and clubs alike. With dozens of projects to their name (including at least 20 installments of their Kill Yourself EP series), they released their official full-length studio debut, I Want to Die…
No Requests
Portland-based DJ Ambush and DJ Klyph help start off the week by playing a set of 90's era and influenced hip-hop. This monthly event features 2 DJs, four decks, and straight boom bap. "It's not a party; it's a vibe." There is no cover for this monthly event every 4th Sunday at McMenamins White Eagle…
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
A holiday mash-up for the whole family, The Hip Hop Nutcracker returns for another spectacular tour. Directed and choreographed by Tony and Olivier Award-nominated Jennifer Weber, this contemporary dance spectacle is a re-mixed and re-imagined version of the classic, smashing hip-hop dance and Tchaikovsky’s timeless music together into a heart-stirring and inspirational holiday event. The…
Lil Tjay
Bronx-bred rapper Lil Tjay is one of the most prominent faces of the New York drill scene, with a pair of high-charting albums and several platinum-certified singles to his name. After building an audience in the late 2010s with well-received EPs, he integrated R&B elements into his style and became a mainstay on the Billboard…
Related Sounds
Explore more of Portland's music scenes
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Biamp Portland Jazz Festival
The Portland Jazz Festival returns every February with a stellar series of concerts and events celebrating Black History Month.
The New Class of the Portland R&B Scene
A new generation of artists is attracting more light to the Portland R&B scene than ever before.
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