Whenever Minnesota or the Twin Cities comes up, my nostalgic 90s brain immediately starts chanting, “Quack, Quack, Quack…” Thankfully, I can set that to rest as the music scene is easily far more famous these days with piles of new music is being generated daily. Currently based out of St. Paul, Minnesota is the up-and-coming musician, deM atlaS, whose skills are something to admire — and whose songs I’ve had on repeat this whole week.
He’s called the Midwest home his whole life. Born in Akron, Ohio, he moved up north to even colder climates in his teens. It seems as though fate was helping him out as Minnesota’s hip hop scene is explosive, to say the least. In 2013, he signed to the indie heavyweight hip hop label Rhymesayers Entertainment allowing him to continue to spread the good word.
He hasn’t laid his head in one place too long, though. Since the day he hooked up with Rhymesayers, he’s been on the move hustling and making a name for himself. His unofficial debut album, DWNR, brought to the table a chill and steady flow full of meaningful lyrics and head bobbing beats. In November of 2014, DWNR was back with a special release, each cover was uniquely hand-drawn by deM atlaS himself. Hope you picked a copy; it sold out in the first 48 hours.
Now, while some artists would follow up that success by jumping in a studio in New York or LA to cut the next one, deM atlaS headed to France to record an album with French super group, Ursus Minor. Hard at work, deM is gearing up to release his second EP in the fall of 2015.
He’ll be crushing a show in Chicago at The Bottom Lounge opening up for Eligh (9/24). I guarantee you won’t regret running out on a Thursday to check it out.
If you like what you’re hearing then you’ll want to check out deM atlaS on his social media and keep up so you know when that new album finally arrives.