Though you might not know their names (yet), several producers, DJs, and beatmakers create the sounds that power Portland’s flourishing hip-hop scene. An upcoming Red Bull showcase on Friday at the Evergreen aims to shine a spotlight on local artists who deserve to be recognized and celebrated.
In addition to Neill Von Tally—perhaps the most well-known creative on the bill—the lineup packs four dope DJs/producers who are shaping Portland hip-hop’s sound from behind the scenes: Sxlxmxn (pronounced Solomon), Fritzwa, Trox, and 17-year-old Quickly Quickly.
“I think producers really do not get their just due,” Fritzwa says via Skype. “They play such a large role and are completely forgotten—sometimes they don’t get credited, sometimes credit gets taken, sometimes they don’t get paid.”
In a recent interview, Trox and Sxlxmxn discuss the fact that during the early years of hip-hop, DJs were the stars of the show—an MC often needed the DJ’s permission to get on the mic in the first place. Following the massive success of the Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight,” popular culture began to rally around innovative MCs like Kurtis Blow and Melle Mel (of Grandmaster Flash’s Furious Five crew).
