Frederick’s hip-hop music scene is mainly underground and undiscovered. Only avid supporters know the Frederick rap community stays full and active; everyday you can find new music to enjoy. With so many local rappers, why don’t we know more of them?
There is no doubt that Frederick is a town of the arts, both historically and present day. Here you can find your new home for your quirky passions including music. But where do the rappers go? Currently, there is no home for them to belong leaving a limited platform.
Is Frederick scared of (t)rap?
Trap music is a sub-genre of rap that originated in the South. It is defined by its aggressive sound and gritty lyrical content. It is commonly the least popular form of rap among business owners and most difficult to sell, thus, making it even harder for that subset of artists to find opportunities and gain exposure than most rappers. Even still, finding places to perform is an uphill climb for all participants.
Why aren’t more local rappers invited into the mainstream music scene?
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Not enough venues(?)
Bluegrass and rock are well-supported genres throughout the city. These types of bands are continually booked and promoted across various Frederick venues, big and small.
Many of the venues that exist either refuse rap artists spaces or are so overwhelmingly lacking in diversity, there is small room for other genres.
The Weinberg hosted its first African-American local rapper in 2017. Keyword: first. It was a great feat that electrified the Frederick rap community and left everyone wondering: How can I get there?
Many Frederick rappers criticize the limited number of performance venues available and an even smaller number of those that are welcoming.
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Denial or Dismissal
that results in, 2a. Lack of opportunities
There was wind of Anchor Fest being cancelled after previous years of success due to the Fairgrounds sudden rejection to continue. The urban music festival’s mission was to book up and coming artists while also driving the culture of live music forward in the city of Frederick, Maryland.
In most cases like these, reasons are rarely given and aren’t required. Owners have the right to decide who they want using their space. Often when rappers request to perform, refusal isn’t given outright, but rather responses are delayed, repetitive, or none at all.
Performing at more venues means more opportunities to expand your fan base, to work on your stage presence, and perfect your craft. Hip-hop artists are left with slim pickings.
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Lack of exposure.
While many are not tapped into the hip hop presence in Frederick, media outlets don’t do their homework in the rap arena to bring them to the forefront. The ratio of rappers in print to the total number of players is highly disproportionate.
There are quite a few talented spitters and trap artists in the pool who do not receive opportunities or exposure a small town could allow.