Rhymesayers announced yesterday that they will also be doing their part to raise funds for Haiti relief. They will be presenting a Benefit show at First Avenue on Tuesday, February 9. The show will be rocked by Brother Ali, Freeway & Jake One, Muja Messiah, Sage Francis, Toki Wright, and many more. Get your tickets through Rhymesayers tomorrow at 11 a.m. This might be the best show of the year so far in MPLS. Make sure to help the people of Haiti.

Photos by Justin Andert

Last week, we talked about the hip hop lifestyle event Sneaker Pimps at First Avenue this Friday that has us super amped. With hip-hop mainstays Clipse set to kill it, live art installations during the event, and rare sneakers for days, it is going to go off big.

With all those aspects to indulge, one of the best parts of this traveling art show is their addition of local flavor to all their events. Today we’re going to spotlight one of Friday’s Minneapolis performers, Muja Messiah.

**In addition to the pair of tickets to Friday’s show that ATF is giving away, Muja Messiah has also thrown us a couple copies of his work to give out. So don’t sleep on your chance to get in on this giveaway. More info on the GIVEAWAY :: Send your name and e-mail to contests@above-thefold.com for your chance to win!**

We caught up with Muja getting in the spirit of Sneaker Pimps at Friedman’s Dept. Store, a longtime staple with a dope shoe selection in North Minneapolis. We asked the URB Next 100 artist some questions about his sneaker preference and his upcoming performance at First Avenue. Find out his sneaker influences and more after the jump:

lanjut →

Sneaker Pimps, the world’s largest traveling sneaker hip-hop exhibition is making its first stop in Minneapolis next Friday August 14 at First Avenue. The tour features over 1500 pairs of rare, limited edition, vintage, celebrity signed, artists collaborated sneakers and a collection of sneaker inspired artwork, fashion and photography. The tour also features live street art installations, live skateboarding demonstrations, street basketball competitions and live hip-hop.

Clipse, the hottest duo in hip hop is doing the honors of headlining the music portion of the 360 degrees of hip hop and sneaker culture that Sneaker Pimps has brought to over 60 cities across the globe.

Minneapolis musicians Parallax and Muja Messiah will help give the night some local flavor, as well.

This is going to be one of the best things that Minneapolis has seen come through in a long time so you will not want to miss out.

In that spirit, your friends at Above the Fold will be giving away one pair of tickets to August 14’s festivities at First Avenue. To be entered just e-mail contests@above-thefold.com with the subject Sneaker Pimps. In the body just provide your name and e-mail. The giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday August 11. Then on August 12 we will choose a winner at random. Winners will be notified by 5 p.m. on Thursday.

Tickets for the event are $20 and can be purchased HERE

See everyone there!

“Street Politics defines the emotions of life’s struggles, advantages and passions through love, activism, violence, education and cultural representation.  The streets and it’s politics are influenced by the way ‘we the people’ are governed by the authority of those who are in position to rule law.” -Maria Isa

Maria Isa will be lighting up First Avenue tonight with a killer local line-up including Muja Messiah, Dance Band, Kill the Vultures, I Self Define, Mayda, and St. Paul Slim. Be sure to come support some of the best music MPLS has to offer!

Listen to a track from Maria’s new album Street Politics ::

Maria Isa – Never Let Go (Feat. Muja Messiah)