Give hip-hop a chance

Since I began reporting on local music about two years ago, there has been a lingering question, locally, whether or not there is a hip-hop scene in the Utica-area.

I see many local guys - and a few ladies - trying to make something out of their love for rap and hip-hop in the area only to face obstacles. Some of the complaints I've heard from these artists is they're often stereotyped as troublemakers, and therefore, clubs rarely offer them a place to perform.

The reason I bring this up at all is I see how hard some of these guys work to get their art out there, and I think they deserve a chance. Saying that, I encourage you to check out the Utica hip-hop scene via MySpace www.myspace.com/uticahiphop315. There is a whole page devoted to local hip-hop and rap artists, where you can learn more about them and their music. You'll see how seriously most of them take their art.

I think it's important that we're at least aware of what's happening in music. Whether or not you want to support it is up to you.

Pictured at left is Geno Brown, aka G-Swiss,a local hip-hop artist who has been performing for 10 years - www.myspace.com/gswiss315.