Rocky Mountain Hip-hop High

The next hip-hop hot spot is percolating "in the middle of nowhere."

Or Colorado, as Procussions member Mr. J Medeiros feels most people view it.

Given the state's conservative stance, rap would appear to be an unlikely byproduct. But the Colorado Springs-nurtured Procussions—as well as other independent acts in the Denver/Boulder area—are determined to make the music industry aware of the brewing hip-hop scene on tap in Colorado. Even if—as Procussions and Deux Process did—they have to leave the state to do so.

Other Denver-area rappers making noise include MC D.O., recently crowned the Best Voice of Denver's Underground by Boulder Weekly magazine. Two years ago, he and his former act, Ground Zero Movement, joined rock group the Fray as winners of Westword magazine's annual local music awards. The Fray has since signed with Epic.

Other area rappers plying their trade include Black Pegasus, Kingdom, Lost Gems, Don Blas and Deuce Mob—best-known for its Thump Records release, "Going Solo," in 1996. Now back in Denver after a stint in Los Angeles, Deuce Mob is readying a new album with Houston's Chingo Bling and other guests on its own Concrete Poetry label.

National record labels are taking notice. Rawkus Records marked its relaunch with the May 30 release of the Procussions' album, "5 Sparrows for 2 Cents." Established in 1996, Rawkus built its reputation on a series of critically acclaimed rap albums by Talib Kweli, Mos Def and Hi-Tek, among others. The label, which temporarily closed in 2004 when Geffen/Universal did not renew its joint-venture agreement, is now distributed by Sony BMG's independent distribution arm, RED.

Deux Process, also from Colorado Springs, released its label debut, "In Deux Time," in January through Fontana-distributed Avatar Records.

"It's definitely a thriving mecca," Avatar A&R chief Donnie Bo Sibley says of the Denver-area hip-hop scene.

However, Deux Process and the Procussions only got signed after they relocated to L.A. a few years ago. Having exhausted Colorado's less-extensive circuit of radio, open-mic and club gigs, both groups felt the only recourse was to move to a larger market—for their careers' sake as well as that of other area hip-hop acts.

"After four or five years, we had great local buzz," Medeiros says. "But no one from the music industry was trying to holler at us. We figured if they won't come to us, we'll come to them."

"We'd done everything there to solidify our careers," Deux Process member Vise Versa (aka Mike Landers) adds. "Everywhere we turned, doors were shut in our faces. We thought if we could bring the national scope on us outside the state, that would help the scene here."

Vise Versa and bandmates Chief Nek (born Alan Johnson) and DJ Shawn Dub are on the first leg of a promotional tour that swings through the Northwest and as far down as Jacksonville, Fla. The group will kick off a second national sweep in July.

Procussions members Medeiros, Rex and Stro started the Storm Tour—featuring Aceyalone, Diverse and others—May 30. The tour runs through July 16.

While others have opted to leave Colorado, local radio is supporting some of the rappers. KQKS Denver spun Deux Process' "Take the Dance" in recent weeks. KMGG Denver has played "This Is the Way," the first single from Deuce Mob's new album, 65 times in the last several weeks, according to Nielsen BDS. The song has also received 15 spins on KDAY Los Angeles.

In fact, D.O. says he has stayed "because I want to help finish building the scene that's been started here. I'm proud the Fray is taking off, but it's frustrating. When do the powers that be here start nurturing the hip-hop artists as well? Denver is a pot ready to explode." ••••