Back In The Game

[October 22nd, 2008]

In 1995, Steven Spyryt, David Parks and Terrance Scott (more affectionately known as Cool Nutz), three Portlanders with a soft spot for local hip-hop, watched as Chill T. was denied a performance at Satyricon as part of the North by Northwest music festival. The club didn’t want urban music played. “It was clear that the local hip-hop community deserved a festival all its own,” Parks, who now lives in NYC and is working on the off-Broadway musical Drumatics, told WW via phone last week. So the trio launched POH-Hop (Portland, Oregon, hip-hop). Now in its 10th incarnation—and back after a three-year hiatus—POH-Hop continues to be a vehicle for local and national talent to spread the gospel of the game in a city where hip-hop is often second fiddle. So, what makes hip-hop tick in Bridgetown? WW asked Cool Nutz about the state of the festival over a mug of mint tea at Backspace last week.

Cool Nutz on…

The best POH-Hop moment:
1997, POH-Hop 2, the second night. Having 1,000 people come out for local hip-hop and not even imagining that you could have that kind of success.

The worst POH-Hop moment:
Having the OLCC threaten to take the venues’ liquor licenses away were any violent incidents to occur at POH-Hop 3.

The first PDX club to allow live hip-hop:

There will never be another place like La Luna [the eastside rock club now home to Simpatica Catering and Biwa]. They were instrumental in the growth and support of Portland hip-hop as a whole.

The current Portland hip-hop scene:
The excitement from the fans is not what it used to be. You have so many rappers nowadays that would rather be on the stage rather than supporting local artists.

Why it’s been three years since the last POH-Hop:
Some people don’t understand what it takes to make an event like this happen, and the complaints from the artists were frustrating. With the time investment and financial concerns, it’s hard to listen to an artist complain about small things when there is so much more that goes into POH-Hop.

This year’s POH-Hop:
I want people to understand that it’s bigger than just me or just them. All the people on this show should feel like this is something we need to validate for hip-hop.

Who he’s excited about for POH-Hop 10:
[Portland’s own] Illmaculate is the champion of the battle-rap scene. He took Portland abroad by going to Europe and representing the city well. Portland-based 97211 always bring something different to the show. One time, they came out and did the Coming To America Soul Glow—they all came out with curl wigs on, spraying the curls. Todd G’s a white guy who used to be a pimp but he turned his life around to God and now he does gospel rap and outreach work with kids. Twisted Insane—it’s one guy and he raps really fast, like Brotha Lynch meets Twista meets Tech N9NE [while] Syndel and J-Kronic are two of the few female MCs that hold it down for the scene.

Recouping POH-Hop’s out-of-pocket financial investment:
In this business you come to an understanding that you are going to have good nights, and you are going to have bad nights, and that is regardless of the great talent, good press, or great promotion of an event. With POH-Hop it isn’t about the money, and we had some great sponsors step up to offset some of the costs, so there is risk, but not as high as some years past. As long as we are able to recoup some of the expenses, we are pretty much satisfied with a good turnout and everyone having a safe and good time.